| Rule Number: |
26P026 |
| Title: |
Rules Governing the Activity of Primitive Camping on State Forest and State Park Lands. |
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Type:
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Standard |
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Status:
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Proposed |
| Agency: |
Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, Agency of Natural Resources
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| Legal Authority: |
10 V.S.A. § 2603, § 2608 and § 4148; 3 V.S.A. § 2803(a), § 2852-2853 |
| Summary:
| Over the last 30+ years, primitive camping practices have evolved, creating challenges that the current rule is not equipped to regulate, specifically around rule enforcement, campfires and wildland fire, and jurisdiction of the rule across state lands managed by the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR), Fish & Wildlife (F&W), and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). FPR is proposing the following changes to the rule: • Clarifying enforcement options if the rule is violated, focused on authorizing F&W wardens and other law enforcement to issue notices of trespass; • Limiting jurisdiction of the rule to FPR lands as F&W lands are governed by another rule; • Providing additional requirements for building and extinguishing campfires; • Changing the setback from water bodies from 100’ to 200’; • Removing the list of lands from the rule. |
| Persons Affected:
| The following people, enterprises, and government entities will be affected by this rule: 1. The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation 2. The Department of Fish and Wildlife 3. Members of the public seeking to camp in a primitive manner on state-owned lands. 4. Law Enforcement Authorities |
| Economic Impact:
| The suite of amendments FPR is proposing to this rule are not anticipated to have a significant economic impact. It is possible that increased enforcement of the rule, including limiting stays to 3 nights, could lead to increased use of fee-based campsites, which could provide additional revenue for Vermont State Parks or to private campgrounds. The increased enforcement authority will not materially impact FWD wardens, as they are already responding to potential rule violations but without the authority to enforce the rule, and so it is possible that the provisions in the amended rule will lead to more efficient use of their time. The amendments to the rule are not expected to have a major economic impact on those individuals that are primitive camping as there are no changes to the fee structure associated with this activity (no fee for groups up to 10, permit required for groups of 11 or more). Finally, the rule amendment is not anticipated to have any impact on the recreation economy. |
| Posting date: |
Jul 22,2026 |
| Information for Contact # 1 |
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Level:
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Primary
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| Name: |
Oliver Pierson |
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Agency:
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Agency of Natural Resources
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| Address: |
1 National Life Drive, Davis 2 |
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| City: |
Montpelier |
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| State: |
VT |
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| Zip: |
05620-3901 |
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| Telephone: |
Tel: 802-505-3563 |
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| Fax: |
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Email: |
oliver.pierson@vermont.gov
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| Website Address: |
https://fpr.vermont.gov/primitive-camping-rule-amendment
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| Information for Contact # 2 |
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Level:
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Secondary
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| Name: |
Meghan Purvee |
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Agency:
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Agency of Natural Resources
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| Address: |
1 National Life Drive, Davis 2 |
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| City: |
Montpelier |
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| State: |
VT |
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| Zip: |
05620 |
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| Telephone: |
802-279-7870 |
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| Fax: |
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Email: |
meghan.purvee@vermont.gov
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