Burlington outlaws public nudity

City’s new ordinance ends Vermont’s most visible experiment in urban body freedom

Burlington City Hall in autumn | Photo by Sdkb, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Public nudity is now officially banned in Vermont’s largest city. Burlington’s ordinance committee voted unanimously on September 5 to finalize the law, following months of debate and an earlier vote by the full City Council.

The ordinance prohibits exposing genitals or the anal region in public spaces without authorization. A first violation carries a $100 civil penalty, which doubles for a second offense within six months. A third violation in that timeframe results in a $500 ticket. Offenders may avoid penalties by completing a program through the Community Justice Center.

The council first advanced the ban in June after complaints from residents and businesses about nude individuals appearing downtown and in city parks. At the time, Planet Nude reported that Burlington was “taking its first step toward banning public nudity,” noting the significance of a local restriction in a state where simple, nonsexual nudity remains legal under state law.

Burlington had previously followed Vermont’s permissive standard, which bars disrobing in public view and lewd behavior but does not criminalize mere nudity. The new law makes Burlington an outlier within the state, joining other municipalities like Brattleboro and Montpelier that have enacted their own restrictions.

The final version allows exemptions for permitted events, including protests, parades, and the long-running University of Vermont naked bike ride. Children under five are also exempt.

During committee discussions, Councilor Gene Bergman reportedly raised concerns about the law’s impact on free expression, while Councilor Sarah Carpenter warned that broad exceptions could encourage people to “push the limits.” The ordinance passed with all members in agreement after clarifications to definitions and exemptions were added.

Vermont’s legal framework has long made it one of the few states where public nudity, under certain conditions, is tolerated. Burlington’s new ordinance ends the city’s de facto acceptance of occasional nudity in public spaces, signaling a shift in how community standards are defined and enforced. That means the city’s popular naked bike ride (which seems to alternate every few years between Burlington and nearby Montpelier) may continue with permits, but casual nude appearances on Church Street or in city parks are now subject to fines. For Burlington, the law marks a cultural as well as legal shift, narrowing the space for nonsexual nudity in public life. 🪐

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More reading:

Burlington takes first step toward banning public nudity

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Notes

• Hakes, S. (2025, September 5). Burlington Free Press. Public nudity officially banned in Burlington — with a few exceptions. https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/vermont/2025/09/05/city-of-burlington-vermont-bans-public-nudity-fines-ordinance-indecent-exposure/85990938007/

• Finno, A. (2025, June 25). Burlington advances public nudity ban after complaints from businesses and residents. VTDigger. https://vtdigger.org/2025/06/25/burlington-advances-public-nudity-ban-after-complaints-from-businesses-and-residents/

• Nix, E. (2025, June). Burlington takes first step toward banning public nudity. Planet Nude. https://www.planetnude.co/p/burlington-takes-first-step-toward?utm_source=publication-search