9 V.S.A. § ___ § 4456a
Residential rental application
Operative Text
(a) A landlord or a landlord’s agent shall not charge an application fee to any individual in order to apply to enter into a rental agreement for a residential dwelling unit. This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit a person from charging a fee to a person in order to apply to rent commercial or nonresidential property. (b)(1) In order to conduct a background or credit check, a landlord shall accept any of the following: (A) an original or a copy of any unexpired form of government-issued identification; (B) an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number; or (C) a Social Security number. (2) A landlord or a landlord’s agent shall not require a Social Security number for the completion of a residential rental application or refuse to accept an application due to the lack of a Social Security number. (Added 1999, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2025, No. 69, § 10, eff. July 1, 2025.)
Under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4456a, Vermont law prohibits landlords and their agents from charging any application fee to prospective tenants seeking to rent a residential dwelling unit. The law also establishes that for background or credit check purposes, landlords must accept government-issued identification, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or a Social Security number as valid identity documentation. Critically, landlords cannot require a Social Security number specifically, nor can they reject an application solely because an applicant does not provide one. This provision applies only to residential rentals; fees for commercial or nonresidential property applications are not affected.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4456a, compliant residential landlords and property managers in Vermont do not collect application fees from prospective tenants at any stage of the residential rental application process. When running background or credit checks, operators accept any unexpired government-issued ID, an ITIN, or a Social Security number — treating all three as equally valid forms of identification. Operators do not single out Social Security numbers as a mandatory requirement, nor do they screen out applicants who present alternative identification, as doing so would constitute a violation of this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4456a of Title 9 of the Vermont Statutes gives residential rental applicants the right to apply without paying an application fee, and the right to use a government-issued ID or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number in place of a Social Security number when a background or credit check is conducted. If a landlord charges an application fee or refuses to process an application because a Social Security number was not provided, that conduct may constitute a violation of § 4456a. Tenants who believe their rights under this provision have been violated may consider contacting a Vermont tenant-rights organization, reaching out to the Vermont Attorney General's office, or consulting with a housing attorney to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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