9 V.S.A. § ___ § 4468b
Rental agreements; cannabis restrictions prohibited
Operative Text
A rental agreement shall not contain a provision that prohibits a tenant from possessing cannabis or cannabis products within the rental premises or using cannabis or cannabis products within a dwelling unit, except that a rental agreement may prohibit the use of lighted cannabis or cannabis products intended for inhalation within the rental premises. This section shall not apply to any rental agreements that are required by federal law to prohibit the possession or use of cannabis within the rental premises. (Added 2025, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 30, eff. July 1, 2026.)
Under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4468b, Vermont rental agreements are barred from including clauses that prevent tenants from possessing cannabis or cannabis products on the rental premises, or from using cannabis or cannabis products inside their dwelling unit. However, landlords retain the ability to prohibit smoking or other combustion-based cannabis consumption anywhere on the rental premises. This rule does not apply to housing that is subject to federal law requirements mandating cannabis-free premises, such as certain federally assisted housing programs. The provision takes effect July 1, 2026.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 4468b, operators of Vermont rental properties will need to review their lease templates before July 1, 2026, to remove any blanket prohibitions on cannabis possession or non-smoked cannabis use inside dwelling units. A compliant lease may still include a no-smoking clause that covers lighted cannabis products intended for inhalation throughout the rental premises. Landlords whose properties participate in federal housing programs that require cannabis prohibitions should confirm whether the federal-law exemption in § 4468b applies to their specific program before making lease changes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4468b gives Vermont tenants the right to possess cannabis and use cannabis products—such as edibles or vaporizers not involving combustion—inside their dwelling units, and lease clauses attempting to strip away those rights will generally be unenforceable once the law takes effect on July 1, 2026. Landlords may still lawfully restrict smoking or burning cannabis anywhere on the rental premises, and tenants living in federally assisted housing may not be covered by this protection. Tenants who believe a lease clause violates § 4468b may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or Vermont Legal Aid to understand available options, including raising the provision's protections as a defense if a landlord attempts to enforce a prohibited clause.
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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