Addison County, Vermont: Small Claims for a Security Deposit
Limits: $10,000 (Superior Court Civil Division small claims only). Court: Vermont Superior Court, Addison Unit, Civil Division.
Filing facts
| State small claims limits | $10,000 (Superior Court Civil Division small claims only) |
|---|---|
| Statewide filing fee | Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website |
| E-filing | Not verified |
| Time limit to sue in Vermont | 6 years. |
| State deposit return deadline |
|
| Penalty formula | failure to return deposit with itemized statement within the applicable deadline: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if the failure is willful, landlord also liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Bad faith required: No. |
| Deposit statute | 9 V.S.A. § 4461 |
Where to file
Vermont Superior Court, Addison Unit, Civil Division
Courthouse city: Middlebury
Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.
Court site located; the court's server blocks automated checks
See how to file in Vermont for the state filing procedure.
Rent and deposits in Addison County
County median gross rent: $1,201 per month.
| Bedrooms | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $960 |
| 1 bedroom | $982 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,254 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,362 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,786 |
Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,254; two months is $2,508. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,254.
State legal maximum deposit in Vermont: No statewide statutory cap. Towns and municipalities may adopt supplemental ordinances (not inconsistent with § 4461 minimum protections); local caps may apply (e.g., Burlington).
Total households in Addison County: 14,638.
Renter households: 2,930 (20% of all households).
Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 9.1%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.
County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed .
Will my deposit claim fit the limit?
Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Addison County, $1,254 per month.
The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.
- Compared with $10,000 (Superior Court Civil Division small claims only), the whole deposit range fits.
A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.
Towns this court serves
A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.
- Vergennes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.
Courthouse details
Address: 7 Mahady Court, Middlebury, VT 05753
Phone: 802-388-7741
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except during observed holidays. Closed the first Friday of each month, 8:00 a.m. to noon, for in service training.
From the state court directory; the source is a PDF our automated check cannot read
Statewide help
- Vermont Legal Aid
Free civil legal help for eligible Vermonters, including evictions and landlord problems, through joint intake with Legal Services Vermont. At access, funding cuts mean no callbacks or phone advice for security-deposit disputes or private-market rent increases.
Phone: (800) 889-2047
- Legal Services Vermont
Free civil legal help and screening of requests for Vermont residents or Vermont legal issues; shared intake with Vermont Legal Aid handles eligible housing matters. At access, security-deposit disputes and private-market rent increases are excluded from callbacks and phone advice.
Phone: (800) 889-2047
These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.
From letter to filing
- Send a Vermont security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
- Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 14 days after your letter.
- Time limit to sue in Vermont: 6 years.
- Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.
This template uses Vermont law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.
Free Vermont template, built from verified state data
I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Vermont law (9 V.S.A. § 4461), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [14 calendar days / 60 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].
FAQ
How much does it cost to file in Addison County?
Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
How long do I have to sue?
Time limit to sue in Vermont: 6 years.
Where do I file?
Vermont Superior Court, Addison Unit, Civil Division. Courthouse city: Middlebury. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.