Planning

The Vermont State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) have the responsibility under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 for developing a Statewide Historic Preservation Plan every five year

Vermont's historic resources include buildings, structures, landscapes, and archaeological sites, both on land and underwater. If you want to know the historic status of your property or learn about the history of your community, please use our Online Resource Center.

The following list provides links to data and information useful in creating community assessments for municipal plans. 

General 

All State statutes can be found online. Direct links to key planning-related statutes are provided below.

Municipalities and the developer of the qualified project may jointly apply to the Downtown Board for a reallocation of sales taxes on construction materials. Qualified projects must be located within a designated downtown district and may be eligible for a reallocation of sales taxes on construction materials.

The Downtown Transportation Fund supports revitalization efforts in designated downtowns each year with over $300,000 in funding. Investment in the infrastructure of public spaces stimulates public investment and creates a sense of identity and pride in Downtowns across Vermont. 

The Municipal Planning Grant (MPG) program encourages and supports planning and revitalization for local municipalities in Vermont. Awarded annually and administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the MPG program works to strengthen Vermont by funding local planning initiatives that support statewide planning goals.

Your community has a great re-development opportunity, but the project needs funding. Sound familiar? Luckily a number of federal, state and local resources are available to help. Each program below serves a particular area of interest and has specific eligibility requirements. Program staff can help you find the resources needed to meet your community development goals.

This community revitalization program helps maintain or evolve small to medium-sized historic centers with existing civic and commercial buildings. The designation supports the historic center and targets training and financial incentives to bring additional public and private investment to spark village revitalization. 

Since the 1970s the state has promoted development policies and programs that maintain and enhance Vermont’s historic development pattern of compact centers surrounded by a rural landscape.