How long does an eviction take in Vermont?
For unpaid rent, expect about 11 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Vermont, and anywhere from 7 to 21 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Vermont eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 14 daysofficial source
14 days' notice (Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4467(a)) source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 21-90 days (typical 45)official source
21 days after service to answer (14 days after a rent-into-court hearing) source - Judgment to lockout 15-21 daysofficial source
Writ of possession: no move-out earlier than 14 days after it is served source - If the tenant appeals 30-day windowsecondary source
30 days to appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court; no automatic stay source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Can pay in full during the notice period. official source source
Eviction costs in Vermont
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $295 | Statewide: Civil Division filing fee $295 official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30-$77 | Not verified for Vermont; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Vermont; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,319/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$54) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Vermont
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 56/100
Timeline 12.5/50 · right to cure 14/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
Vermont eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Vermont?
A nonpayment eviction in Vermont typically takes about 11 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 7 to 21 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Vermont?
14 days' notice (Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4467(a)).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Vermont by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Vermont?
The court filing fee is $295 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Vermont landlord-friendly for evictions?
Vermont scores 56 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 12.5/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | legislature.vermont.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | www.vermontjudiciary.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | legislature.vermont.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | secondary source | www.vtlawhelp.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | www.vtcourts.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Vermont: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Maryland (59, 6.5 wk) · Massachusetts (60, 8.5 wk) · Oregon (60, 5 wk) · Virginia (60, 7.5 wk) · California (49, 8.5 wk)