Building Resilient Communities

Building Resilient Communities

Helping to build and steward a sustainable future for Vermont that balances healthy communities and natural environments is core to VNRC. That’s why we kicked off the Resilient Communities Campaign.

Its goal? To showcase the collaboration, advocacy, on-the-ground action, and diverse stories behind the land use policies we have here in Vermont.

Land use policy can seem abstract – but it shows up in the vibrancy of our downtowns, the viability of our farms and forests, whether we get to choose where to live and how we get around, and our resilience to flooding and climate change.

Why now?

After decades of advocating to protect and strengthen Act 250 – Vermont’s landmark land use review law – VNRC worked with a broad range of partners to develop and advocate for Act 181, a law passed in 2024 to make much needed updates to Act 250 and other core state and regional programs that plan for, guide and regulate how and where Vermont grows. Act 181 is the most significant update of our state’s land use framework in many years; whether you care most about housing access, wildlife habitat, or climate emissions, this work touches all of it.

Act 181 aimed to give us a stronger framework to plan for safe, healthy, vibrant communities, but its success depends on continued community engagement, thoughtful planning, and shared stewardship. 

We invite Vermonters to explore these stories, share their own, and be part of shaping the next chapter of how and where Vermont grows. 

On this page, you can find important information about the history of Act 250, the goals and on-the-ground planning processes and impacts of Act 181, and the latest on the implementation of the law.

What’s the latest?

S.325 – The Act 181 Amendment Bill 

Right now the Vermont Legislature is considering adjustments to Act 181, the 2024 legislation that modernizes Act 250, Vermont’s land use law that has been in effect since 1970. The land use planning process is nuanced and so a path forward for Act 181 that allows for thoughtful implementation is being debated in the State House with S.325. S.325 makes adjustments to Act 181 across four key areas: natural resource protections, housing policy, regional planning, and community engagement. Learn more here, and follow the legislation here.

What is Act 181?

We believe that to create more resilient communities, land use planning must be guided by Smart Growth principles, balancing the needs of our environment, our neighbors, and our local economies – and Act 181 helps to achieve just that by overhauling Vermont’s planning framework. 

The new law does many things, but here’s the big picture:

• Makes it easier to build where it makes sense: Modernizes Act 250 to streamline permitting for homes in and around village centers and downtowns—places with existing infrastructure and services.
• Protects Vermont’s rural areas*: Focuses Act 250 review on development outside growth areas to keep farms, forests, and sensitive natural resources intact and working.
  • *These provisions are likely on pause given current conversations across the state and in the Legislature. You can see our response to the ongoing developments here. 
• Strengthens local and regional planning: Updates maps and planning tools so communities can guide growth toward connected, walkable neighborhoods.
• Reforms community designations: Makes it easier for towns to apply for and benefit from incentives for development and revitalization projects in designated areas. 

Want to dive in even deeper? Check out our FAQs here.

Local artist Susie Nagle illustrates how smart growth principles can come to life in Vermont.

What is Act 250?

Historic downtowns, stunning views, and active working lands are quintessentially Vermont. So, too, is Act 250, the legislation that has guided development in the state since 1970, with the goals of safeguarding our farms and forests from sprawl, protecting our natural resources, and helping our towns balance growth with community health and safety.

Act 250 is an environmental review and permitting process that regulates development in Vermont by reviewing the largest development projects for their potential impacts on the surrounding area. There are ten criteria used to evaluate a project, related to issues such as water, transportation, and conformance with local and regional plans.

Act 250 is administered by the Land Use Review Board (LURB)), an independent entity in the Executive Branch of Vermont State government. The LURB’s primary function is to administer Act 250 by overseeing the review of large developments, balancing environmental protection with sustainable growth, and to implement the provisions of Act 181 that require review and adoption regional plans, enable municipalities to seek approval for areas where Act 250 will not apply to housing, commercial and industrial development and implement the provisions of Act 181 to protect critical natural resources. Read more on the LURB website.

How has Act 250 shaped Vermont?

There are many ways the Vermont you know and love today has been shaped by Act 250. Here are just a few:

• Wonder why Vermont has managed to limit big-box sprawl? Act 250 has played a major role.

• Along with other state policies, Act 250 has helped minimize real estate speculation in Vermont, making our state less vulnerable to economic downturns.

• Act 250 has protected vital wildlife habitat, such as bear habitat and deer wintering areas, helping to ensure that we have healthy wildlife populations in Vermont.

• Act 250 has provided a voice for Vermonters in helping shape significant projects that include major ski area expansion, quarrying, major housing developments, and industrial development.