CITATIONS & PENALTIES

The safety and access codes enforced by the division are important for the people of Vermont. When building owners, designers, builders or others fail to comply with these codes they may be subject to a fine. A fine, referred to as an administrative citation and penalty, is an important enforcement tool for the Division of Fire Safety. These fines are normally issued when a person has failed to correct safety violations, after being notified by an inspection report, but a fine can be issued without previous notification for violations such as the failure to obtain a permit, failure to have a required license or when a safety violation poses a serious threat to life safety. These fines are not handled through the court system. These fines are handled through an administrative process with an appeal decided by a hearing officer. The division may settle an appeal informally without a hearing. In determining the amount of the fine the division considers the seriousness of the hazard, the number of people exposed to the hazard, whether a violation has been corrected and whether the person has been previously been fined for the same violation.

RULES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS & PENALTIES

STATE STATUTES