BILL AS INTRODUCED H.509
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VT LEG #382621 v.1
H.509 1
Introduced by Representatives Berbeco of Winooski and Tomlinson of 2
Winooski 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Municipal and county government; municipal charters; City of 6
Winooski; amendment 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to approve an 8
amendment to the charter of the City of Winooski to authorize the City Council 9
to adopt an ordinance governing the eviction of residential tenants. 10
An act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the City of 11
Winooski 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
Sec. 1. CHARTER AMENDMENT APPROVAL 14
The General Assembly approves the amendment to the charter of the City 15
of Winooski as set forth in this act. Voters approved the proposal of 16
amendment on March 4, 2025. 17
Sec. 2. 24 App. V.S.A. chapter 19 is amended to read: 18
CHAPTER 19. CITY OF WINOOSKI 19
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VT LEG #382621 v.1
§ 304. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES 1
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(b) Additional powers. In addition to powers otherwise conferred upon it 3
by law, the City, by the action of the Council or, if specifically required by law 4
or this charter, by the action of its voters, has the following powers and rights, 5
including: 6
* * * 7
(13)(A) To adopt by ordinance protections for residential tenants, as 8
defined in 9 V.S.A. chapter 137, from eviction without just cause. Just cause 9
shall include: 10
(i) a tenant’s material breach of a written rental agreement; 11
(ii) a tenant’s violation of State statutes regulating tenant 12
obligations in residential rental agreements; 13
(iii) nonpayment of rent; and 14
(iv) a tenant’s failure to accept written, reasonable, good faith 15
renewal terms. 16
(B) The ordinance shall: 17
(i) exclude from the definition of just cause the expiration of a 18
rental agreement as the sole grounds for termination of tenancy; and 19
(ii) exempt, subject to mitigation provisions, sublets, in-unit 20
rentals, and the following properties: 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.509
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VT LEG #382621 v.1
(I) owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes; 1
(II) properties being withdrawn from the rental market, 2
including properties to be occupied by the owner or an immediate family 3
member as a primary residence; and 4
(III) properties in need of substantial renovations that preclude 5
occupancy. 6
(C) The ordinance shall include provisions that: 7
(i) Mitigate potential negative impacts on tenants and other 8
property owners, including requirements of adequate notice and reasonable 9
relocation expenses. 10
(ii) Provide for a reasonable probationary period after initial 11
occupancy. 12
(iii) Limit unreasonable rent increases to prevent de facto 13
evictions or nonrenewal. This subdivision (iii) shall not be construed to limit 14
rental rates beyond the purpose of preventing individual evictions. 15
(D) The ordinance shall define “reasonable” and “adequate notice” in 16
defining just cause and shall require that landlords provide notice of just cause 17
and other legal requirements as part of the rental agreement. 18
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Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 20
This act shall take effect on passage. 21