Planning Resources for
Planning Commissions ​

​Planning Manuals for Vermont Municipalities - (Updated)
​hese Municipal Planning Manuals provide information that will help planning commissions with the complex task of developing the municipal plan, from designing the planning program to adopting the plan and with information about state designation programs. Reissued by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development in February 2017.

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The purpose of this manual is to provide a guide for municipal planning commissions in fulfilling their role and responsibilities as set forth in 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117, the Municipal and Regional Planning and Development Act. A major role of the municipal planning commission is to develop the municipal plan. The Planning Manual provides information that will help the planning commission with this complex task, from designing the planning program to adopting the plan.

​​​State Planning Modules:

Module 1:​ The Municipal Plan ​

​New and up-to-date guidance to help citizen planners build
consensus on the community’s top priorities and develop
​​concrete action steps that local leaders can achieve.

​​​Module 2: State Designation Programs

A concise guide on the five, state designation
​programs and their benefits - along with case studies that show how communities have used the designations​to achieve their goals.

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Planning Resources

Case Study: Making Plans Matter   
        
​ Data Sources for Municipal Plans      

​Municipal Plan and Bylaw Database

​Funding Directory for Village and Downtowns  

​Planning Consultant Directory     

​Planning Statutes and Rules

​Other useful planning resources and publications

Tools, Samples, Procedures and Definitions

Plan and Bylaw Adoption Tools
​(Word Version - 141 kb)

Forms and checklists for municipal plan and bylaw preparation and adoption. Addresses sections 4385 and 4441-4447 of 24 V.S.A Chapter 117.

Note: This document was updated in March 2017. Please use this version to replace earlier versions.

Sample Bylaws and Definitions 
​(PDF Version - 106 kb

Addresses sections 4412, 4413,
​4462, 4464 and 4471 of 24 V.S.A Chapter 117.
 
Other Download Option:
166 kb Word file 

Manual of Procedures for Administration & Enforcement of VT Zoning Bylaws (PDF Version)

This document provides sample language and commentary for updating the procedural sections of municipal zoning bylaws to meet the Chapter 117 requirements adopted in 2004.
 
Other Download Option:
178 kb Word file 

Land Use Implementation Manual

A Package of 33 TOPIC PAPERS introducing a wide range of concepts, tools and techniques for helping communities achieve their planning goals. ​