Licensing
How Vermont Licenses Private Investigators
Vermont regulates investigators under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 59, Private Investigative and Security Services. The program is administered by the Office of Professional Regulation, part of the Secretary of State's office. Section 3172 provides for agency licenses for private investigative services, Section 3173 covers individual private investigator licenses, and Section 3179 makes it a violation to practice as a private investigator without a license.
For a client, that usually means two licenses to check: the individual's and the agency's. The Office of Professional Regulation's Find a Professional lookup shows license status for both. Vermont law also limits what licensees and their employees may disclose about their work to anyone other than the employer. If someone says an exemption from licensing applies, ask which one and confirm it.
Courts
How Vermont Courts Are Organized
Vermont's trial court is the Vermont Superior Court, a single statewide court with a unit in each of the 14 counties. Each unit has Civil, Criminal, Family and Probate divisions, and an Environmental Division sits statewide. The Family Division hears divorce, custody, support and juvenile cases. The Judicial Bureau handles civil violations such as traffic tickets. County government in Vermont is limited, and the courts are run by the state judiciary.
Communities
Vermont Communities With a Private Investigator Page
Every Vermont community over 3,000 residents, by population (U.S. Census Bureau, April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2024 estimates (Vintage 2024)).
| Community | County | Population (2024 est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington | Chittenden County | 44,432 |
| South Burlington | Chittenden County | 21,713 |
| Colchester | Chittenden County | 17,807 |
| Rutland | Rutland County | 15,565 |
| Bennington | Bennington County | 15,121 |
| Brattleboro | Windham County | 11,975 |
| Essex | Chittenden County | 11,497 |
| Milton | Chittenden County | 10,802 |
| Essex Junction | Chittenden County | 10,787 |
| Hartford | Windsor County | 10,657 |
| Williston | Chittenden County | 10,091 |
| Middlebury | Addison County | 9,214 |
| Springfield | Windsor County | 9,028 |
| Winooski | Chittenden County | 8,370 |
| Barre | Washington County | 8,304 |
| Shelburne | Chittenden County | 8,126 |
| Barre (town) | Washington County | 8,019 |
| Montpelier | Washington County | 7,915 |
| St. Johnsbury | Caledonia County | 7,385 |
| St. Albans (town) | Franklin County | 7,109 |
| St. Albans | Franklin County | 7,031 |
| Swanton | Franklin County | 6,854 |
| Morristown | Lamoille County | 6,094 |
| Northfield | Washington County | 5,915 |
| Lyndon | Caledonia County | 5,651 |
| Waterbury | Washington County | 5,434 |
| Fairfax | Franklin County | 5,372 |
| Stowe | Lamoille County | 5,292 |
| Jericho | Chittenden County | 5,108 |
| Randolph | Orange County | 4,917 |
| Georgia | Franklin County | 4,901 |
| Rockingham | Windham County | 4,745 |
| Hinesburg | Chittenden County | 4,742 |
| Derby | Orleans County | 4,507 |
| Manchester | Bennington County | 4,462 |
| Castleton | Rutland County | 4,455 |
| Newport | Orleans County | 4,333 |
| Richmond | Chittenden County | 4,157 |
| Brandon | Rutland County | 4,116 |
| Rutland (town) | Rutland County | 3,918 |
| Charlotte | Chittenden County | 3,897 |
| Bristol | Addison County | 3,779 |
| Cambridge | Lamoille County | 3,685 |
| Norwich | Windsor County | 3,627 |
| Williamstown | Orange County | 3,604 |
| Shaftsbury | Bennington County | 3,593 |
| Highgate | Franklin County | 3,562 |
| Windsor | Windsor County | 3,522 |
| Hartland | Windsor County | 3,441 |
| Johnson | Lamoille County | 3,378 |
| Pownal | Bennington County | 3,258 |
| Underhill | Chittenden County | 3,123 |
| Woodstock | Windsor County | 3,008 |
Read the full Vermont investigator guide
Neighboring states: Massachusetts · New Hampshire · New York
How this service works
Investigator Consulting in Vermont
Delator Group is a private investigation firm licensed in Tennessee and headquartered in Nashville. In Vermont, Delator Group is not licensed as a private investigator or private investigative agency and does not perform, supervise or direct investigations. We review requests and refer them to independent investigators who hold the license Vermont requires. Those investigators contract with clients directly, set their own fees and are responsible for the work. Delator Group may receive compensation from participating investigators for referrals.
FAQ
Questions About Finding an Investigator in Vermont
Which Vermont communities have their own page?
Every incorporated Vermont city, town or village with more than 3,000 residents, plus every township or town government of that size, has its own page here, 53 in all. Smaller places are covered by the nearest page and the statewide guide.
Is Delator Group licensed in Vermont?
No. In Vermont, Delator Group provides investigator consulting and referral only. Investigations are performed by independently licensed Vermont investigators who contract with you directly.
Who licenses private investigators in Vermont?
The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State, under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 59, Private Investigative and Security Services. Individual private investigators need a license under 26 V.S.A. Section 3173, and investigative businesses need an agency license under Section 3172, unless an exemption applies.
How do I check an investigator's Vermont license?
Search the investigator and the agency in the Office of Professional Regulation's online Find a Professional lookup and confirm both licenses are active.
Is Vermont a one-party or two-party consent state?
Vermont is generally described as a one-party consent state, mostly because it has no general recording statute of its own. Federal law, 18 U.S.C. Section 2511, generally lets a participant record a conversation unless the purpose is criminal or tortious. Other privacy laws can still apply, so an attorney should confirm how this works for your situation.