Shoreland Application Resources

Important information regarding permit application submission

You may now submit permit applications, compliance reports and fee payments through our new online form to expedite its receipt and review

Please use the forms below to fill out permit applications and submit the application and permit fees online through the link above. Please reach out to your regional Lake and Shoreland permitting contact with any questions.

It is strongly recommended that applications be submitted at least 45 days before the proposed beginning date of the project. If you are unsure as to whether your project requires a Shoreland Permit, Shoreland Registration, or is an exempt activity, please fill out the shoreland project worksheet.

Individual Shoreland Permit Application and Supporting Materials:

Shoreland Permit Application
Shoreland Permit Application Instructions
Notice of Co-Permittee Status Form
Shoreland Stabilization Measures Addendum *
- Please see additional shoreland stabilization project information at the following link: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/permit/encroachment/shoreline-stabilization
Public Recreation Area Addendum *

*Only required for specific projects

Other Shoreland Applications:

Shoreland Jurisdictional Determination Requests

Jurisdictional Determinations can be used to determine whether a proposed project requires a permit or not. For proposed pervious deck or pervious patio projects, this determination is required to be obtained prior to beginning a project in order to specify how a project would be pervious (see pervious surface guidance for pervious criteria). Following review of the project by the regional permit analyst, the applicant will receive a letter indicating that the proposed project is either exempt from permitting or needs a Permit or Registration. There is no fee associated with submitting a Jurisdictional Determination application. A Jurisdictional Determination can be especially helpful in providing formal documentation that a project was reviewed by a regional permit analyst.

Adjoining Property Owner Notification

As of January 1, 2018, the State of Vermont requires that applicants applying for a Shoreland Protection Permit provide notice to adjoining landowners (10 V.S.A. § 7701 et seq)

As a part of submitting a Shoreland Protection Individual Permit application, the applicant and/or their representative must provide notice to adjoining property owners at the same time the application is submitted. The applicant must certify on the application that notifying adjoining property owners has been completed prior to application submittal.

If the project is considered large and complex, additional notification requirements apply. Contact an analyst for additional information. Use the Permit Navigator tool to identify the required environmental permits and approvals for projects on a single parcel. If it is a linear, polygon, or multi-parcel project, contact a Community Assistance Specialist to get started.
The OFFICIAL NOTICE letter is required to be sent by U.S. Mail to notify an adjoining property owner. Note: Permit application materials are not required to be sent with this notice.
An Adjoining Property Owner Notice is required as follows:

Shoreland Protection Permits	Adjoining Property Owners to be Notified
All Shoreland Protection Individual Permits	Adjoining property owners on the terrestrial boundaries of the shoreland property. Notice is not required for property owners across the lake.

Shoreland Projects (identified by the yellow X in the image above) must notify adjoing property owners shown in green. This is only an example. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all potentially affected surrounding landowners are notified.

Shoreland Protection Permit Fees

Fees

Amendments to a Shoreland Protection Permit

If you are proposing to change a project authorized under a Shoreland Protection Permit, you may require a Shoreland Protection Permit Amendment. Depending on the proposed changes to the project, the amendment may be considered to be a major amendment or a minor amendment. To submit a Shoreland Permit amendment, please fill out and submit the Shoreland Permit Application form and indicate that the proposed project is an amendment to a previosuly authorized Shoreland Permit. All draft decisions for both types of amendments are posted to the Environmental Notice Bulletin. Please contact your regional permit analyst to determine whether your proposed Shoreland Permit Amendment would be considered major or minor.

A Major Permit Amendment means that the proposed changes to the previously authorized Shoreland Permit require the regional permit analyst to complete technical review. A major permit amendment requires adjoining property owners be notified of the proposed amendment. The draft decision for a proposed major amendment will be placed on public notice for a minimum of 30 days. Examples of major amendments include:

A proposed increase in impervious surface or cleared area that is more than what was previously permitted. For example, if a Shoreland Individual Permit approved 500 square feet of new impervious surface and the permittee wishes to amend the project so that 600 square feet of new impervious surface may be created, the amendment application would be a request for 100 square feet of new impervious surface to be an approved part of the previously permitted project.
A modification to a conditioned best management practice(s).
A modification to a pervious surface as shown on the Approved Application.

A Minor Permit Amendment means that the proposed changes to an individual permit condition or requirement does not necessitate technical review. A minor permit amendment does not require adjoining property owners be notified of the proposed amendment. The draft decision for a proposed minor amendment will be placed on public notice for a minimum of 14 days. Examples of minor amendments include:

A modification to the project as shown on the Approved Application that does not result in the creation of impervious surface or cleared area in excess of what was previously permitted.
A change to a non-technical detail; clarification of the project description; or a change of wording to the original permit that does not necessitate technical review.

Additional Shoreland Application Resources

Best Management Practices

For projects that exceed the 20% slope, 20% impervious surface, or 40% cleared area standards, the applicant must propose one or more best management practice (BMP)s as part of their Shoreland Protection Permit application. Contact a regional permit analyst if you are uncertain as to what BMP should be selected for the type and location of your project.

Vegetation Management

The Shoreland Protection Act's Vegetation Protection Standards, provides a way for landowners to selectively thin vegetation within 250 feet of mean water level in a manner that still retains a healthy forested shoreland, while allowing for increased light and lake view. Usually, removal of vegetation requires a Shoreland Permit or Registration. However, no Shoreland Permit or Registration is required for the removal of dead, diseased, or unsafe trees nor is a permit required for the removal of noxious and nuisance plants.

Helpful Shoreland Management Tools

The Vermont ANR Natural Resource Atlas A Guide to Healthy Lakes Using Lakeshore Landscaping

*Guidance on using the VT ANR Atlas for Shoreland Permitting