Vermont Fishing License: Requirements, Cost, and Age Limits (2026)

A person age 15 or older generally needs a Vermont fishing license before taking fish. The youth, permanent-license, disability, and other statutory provisions are listed separately.

The resident annual fishing license costs $28.

The nonresident annual fishing license costs $54.

A Vermont resident age 15–17 needs a youth fishing license, which costs $8. A 15-year-old is not included in the under-15 exemption.

Nonresident fishing licenses cost $21 for one day, $23 for three consecutive days, or $31 for seven consecutive days.

A nonresident age 15–17 needs a youth fishing license, which costs $15.

A resident or nonresident younger than 15 may fish without first obtaining a license. The exemption ends on the angler's 15th birthday.

Vermont's 2026 Winter Free Fishing Day was January 31, and its Summer Free Fishing Day was June 13. Residents and nonresidents could fish without a license on those dates; other fishing regulations remained in effect.

Vermont's 2026 annual licenses currently expire December 31. Act 159, effective July 1, 2026, amended the law so the Commissioner may use either December 31 or 365 days after issuance. VTFWD has not announced rolling validity for 2026, so the calendar-year treatment should not be presented as a permanent rule.

Since January 1, 2026, a Vermont resident with a developmental disability may apply for a free permanent fishing license using a statement from the person's treating health care provider.

A Vermont resident who is legally blind, has paraplegia or a certified severe permanent mobility disability, or is or has been rated at least 60% disabled for a service-connected condition may qualify for a free permanent fishing license. The Department requires an application and category-specific proof.

The regular Vermont fishing license covers ice fishing. There is no separate ice-fishing license or stamp, although water-specific seasons and regulations still apply.

Vermont offers resident and nonresident lifetime fishing licenses using the applicable base fee multiplied by the statutory age factor: 8× for a child younger than one, 16× for ages 1–15, 31× for ages 16–24, and 26× for ages 25–64. The statute defines no factor above age 64, so this page does not extend the product beyond those brackets. A holder must notify the Department in each year the fishing privilege will be used.

Vermont is landlocked and has no saltwater fishing-license product. Its fishing licenses cover fishing in Vermont's inland waters.

Vermont does not sell or require a separate recreational trout stamp. The ordinary fishing license covers trout fishing, subject to season, water, method, and harvest rules.

A qualifying nonresident from a state that grants the corresponding privilege to Vermont residents may receive a free one-year license after providing the required proof. This is limited reciprocity, not a general nonresident disability exemption.

A nonresident student enrolled at a Vermont secondary school, college, or university qualifies for resident license pricing after successfully completing two successive semesters. The student must present the required school document and buy through an authorized agent.

A Vermont resident age 66 or older may buy a permanent fishing license for a one-time $60 fee. The license must be updated every year, but the annual update is free.

The resident combination hunting-and-fishing license costs $47. Hunting eligibility requirements apply separately.