Overly burdensome and unpredictable regulations hinder housing development, business expansion, and economic resilience. Vermont ranks poorly in regulatory efficiency and business climate surveys, with employers citing red tape as a top barrier alongside taxes and labor shortages. We advocate for regulatory modernization that streamlines processes for timely approvals, reduces barriers to housing and infrastructure, repeals outdated mandates, and creates a predictable environment that encourages innovation, job creation, and investment in the state.
This includes reforming the overly broad land-use review process, strengthening statewide zoning to allow by-right multifamily housing, accessory dwelling units, and “missing middle” housing near jobs, services, and transit, and establishing one-stop permitting centers with automatic approvals for projects that meet statutory standards. We also support flexible building and energy codes, outcome-based performance standards, and amendments to emission-reduction mandates that prioritize cost-effective compliance, innovation, and energy efficiency and do not undermine housing affordability for builders or homeowners.
