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Vermont fire safety officials tell committee complaint‑driven STR inspections strain resources
Summary
Division of Fire Safety officials told the House General and Housing Committee that inspections are complaint‑driven, staffing is limited, and most fire fatalities occur in single‑family homes — a reality that shapes the Division’s priorities on short‑term rentals and proposed energy‑efficiency enforcement.
The House General and Housing Committee heard testimony on Jan. 15 from officials at the Division of Fire Safety on the state’s approach to building permits, rental housing health and safety, and short‑term rental inspections. Mike Terrell, director of the Division of Fire Safety, told the committee the Division carries out plan review and permitting for public buildings, enforces rental housing health and safety rules that took effect Jan. 1, 2024, and provides statewide firefighter training and specialty teams.
Terrell said the Division’s housing enforcement work is complaint‑driven. "There is no, proactive inspections on any housing, whether short term or long term," he said, describing the Division’s current practice of responding to tenant or third‑party complaints rather than running routine site visits. He said the Division has handled roughly 875 complaints since the new…
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