Charter, Ordinances and Policies
In this chapter of our web site, you will find information about Barre Town's government structure, its laws, proposed ordinances, rules and regulations, and policies. The Town Charter is analogous to a constitution; it establishes the framework of the Barre Town local government. Ordinances are the laws of the town. The ordinances are codified (organized) in a book referred to as the Code Of Ordinances. Policies establish ground rules for singular topics. General town policies are listed below.
The Ordinance adoption process (described in Town Charter Section 37) has three steps. The first step (first reading) is the introduction of the proposed ordinance. If the Selectboard votes to introduce the ordinance, it is advanced to the second step (second reading) for public hearing. The public hearing is held two weeks after the introduction. Notice of the public hearing must be published in a local newspaper. If after holding and closing the public hearing the Selectboard wishes to continue with the ordinance adoption, the third step (third reading) or final action is held 7 - 10 days after the public hearing. Notice of adopted ordinances must be published in a local newspaper at least seven days prior to the effective date, which usually is 15 days after the Selectboard's final action (third reading).
Town voters may petition for repeal of the ordinance by submitting to the Town Clerk (on or before the effective date) a petition signed by not fewer than 10% of the registered Town voters. If a valid petition is submitted, a special Town Meeting (election) must be held not more than 45 days from the petition being filed.
Town voters may petition for repeal of the ordinance by submitting to the Town Clerk (on or before the effective date) a petition signed by not fewer than 10% of the registered Town voters. If a valid petition is submitted, a special Town Meeting (election) must be held not more than 45 days from the petition being filed.
- Town of Barre Charter. In Vermont, Town Charters are state statutes. Click here to see the Town of Barre Charter on Vermont's website for state statutes.
- Town of Barre Code of Ordinances. Click here to see the ordinances as hosted on a third-party website. Note that updates are made to this website just once a year. New ordinances may be adopted and in effect between web updates. To see recently adopted ordinances, click here.

Document Center
The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.
Categories always sorted by seq (sub-categories sorted within each category)
Documents sorted by SEQ in Ascending Order within category
Documents sorted by SEQ in Ascending Order within category
Pertinent Policies19 documents
- Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Conduct (elected and appointed officials)
- Animal Hearing Policy
- Budget Review Policy
- Dead End Street Signing
- Directional Sign Policy
- EEO Policy
- Equestrain Sign Policy
- Fields Unfit for Play Policy
- Industrial and Commercial Tax Stabilization Policy
- Not For Profit Donations
- Public Input At Selectboard Meetings
- Purchasing Policy (as amended in October 2019)
- Sale of Property
- Sewage Treat Residual Capacity Allocation Policy
- Streetlighting
- Town of Barre Investment & Finance Policy
- Town of Barre Sewer Capital Improvement Investment & Finance Policy
- Volunteer Appreciation
- Winter Sand Policy