If you own property in Winhall and you're planning to rent it out short-term, the town's 2026 Short-Term Rental Ordinance sets an exact, published fee — not a range, not an estimate. Here's precisely what it costs, straight from the adopted ordinance (effective mid-June 2026).
The fee is per bedroom, not a flat rate
Winhall charges STR license fees based on how many bedrooms your property has, with a minimum and a maximum:
| License type | Rate | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| New License | $500 / bedroom | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| Renewal License | $250 / bedroom | $500 | $2,000 |
All fees are non-refundable — you pay it whether or not the application is approved.
What that looks like by bedroom count
| Bedrooms | New license | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | $1,000 (minimum applies) | $500 (minimum applies) |
| 3 | $1,500 | $750 |
| 4 | $2,000 | $1,000 |
| 5 | $2,500 | $1,250 |
| 6 | $3,000 | $1,500 |
| 8+ | $4,000 (maximum applies) | $2,000 (maximum applies) |
A large group rental — the kind with a bunk room and a game room that's genuinely built for 8+ guests — hits the $4,000 fee cap on its first license and $2,000 every year after.
Costs beyond the license fee itself
The license fee isn't the only expense. A complete application also requires:
- A current Vermont Fire and Safety Report confirming compliance with the 2015 Fire and Building Code and ADA access rules.
- A site plan, drawn to scale, showing your required off-street parking (one space per two guests).
- Documentation establishing your permitted occupancy — a recorded wastewater/septic permit, town health permit, or fire district gallonage certificate.
The ordinance is explicit that it's your responsibility to hire whatever lawyers, engineers, or surveyors are needed to produce that documentation — those costs are separate from, and in addition to, the license fee.
When you have to pay it
- Already renting without a license? Application due by September 1 following the ordinance's effective date.
- Starting fresh? Before you take your first booking — there's no grace period.
- Renewing? Due 60 days before expiration, which in practice means September 1 every year, since licenses run out October 31.
Miss renewal by more than 14 days and the license is considered abandoned — you start over with a brand-new application at the full new-license rate, not the cheaper renewal rate.
Why the fee is per bedroom
Winhall ties the fee, and your maximum occupancy, to the same thing: your bedroom count as verified by your wastewater/septic capacity. The town's logic is straightforward — more bedrooms means more guests, more parking, more wastewater load, and more of the impact this ordinance exists to manage. A studio and an 8-bedroom lodge were never going to cost the same to license.
This is based on the Town of Winhall Short-Term Rental Ordinance as adopted April 15, 2026. It's a planning summary, not legal advice — confirm your exact bedroom count and occupancy documentation with the STR Administrator before you apply.
