The Act 250 criteria are the specific standards that district commissions use to evaluate every development and subdivision application that falls under Act 250 review. The criteria focus on projected impacts on air and water quality, water supplies, waste disposal, flood hazards, soil stability, habitat protection, transportation networks, local schools and services, municipal expenses, historic resources, aesthetics, primary agricultural soils, forest fragmentation, energy conservation, impacts of growth, and consistency with municipal and regional plans.
A complete listing of the Act 250 criteria is available via the Vermont Statutes Online at 10 V.S.A. §6086. In addition, the Board's District Commissioner Training Manual addresses each criterion in a separate chapter (see District Commissioner Training Manual on our website). You can also contact our Act 250 District Office staff if you have questions.
- Criterion 1: Air and water pollution
- 1(A): Headwaters
- 1(B): Waste disposal
- 1(C): Water conservation
- 1(D): Flood hazard areas; river corridors
- 1(E): Streams
- 1(F): Shorelines
- 1(G): Wetlands
- Criterion 2: Water supply
- Criterion 3: Impact on water supply
- Criterion 4: Erosion and capacity of soil to hold water
- Criterion 5: Transportation
- 5(A): Traffic
- 5(B): Transportation
- Criterion 6: Educational services
- Criterion 7: Municipal services
- Criterion 8: Ecosystem protection, scenic beauty, historic sites
- Visual aesthetics, odor, and noise
- Historic Sites - structures, districts, or landscapes
- Historic Sites - archeology
- Rare and irreplaceable natural areas
- 8(A): Scenic beauty, historic sites, and rare and irreplaceable natural areas
- 8(B): Necessary wildlife habitat and endangered species
- 8(C): Forest blocks and habitat connectors (effective 12/31/2026)
- Criterion 9: Capability and Development: Land Use
- 9(A): Impact of growth
- 9(B): Primary agricultural soils
- 9(C): Productive forest soils
- 9(D): Earth resources
- 9(E): Extraction of earth resources
- 9(F): Energy conservation
- 9(G): Private utility services
- 9(H): Costs of scattered development
- 9(J): Public utility services
- 9(K): Public investments
- 9(L): Settlement patterns
- Criterion 10: Local and regional plans