How Sheriff Offices Are Set Up Across Vermont's 14 Counties

Vermont has 14 counties, and every one of them elects its own sheriff. Each sheriff serves a four-year term and answers to county voters, not to the governor or a state commissioner. The office is created by the Vermont Constitution, and its duties are set out mainly in Title 24 of the Vermont Statutes, which covers municipal and county government.

That structure explains why sheriff's offices look different from one county to the next. Each sheriff hires deputies, chooses which town contracts to accept, and sets public hours. The Vermont Sheriffs' Association supports training and shared practice, but it does not run any individual department.

Newcomers are often surprised by one more fact. Vermont has no county police force of the kind found in many other states. The Vermont State Police, part of the Department of Public Safety, provide primary patrol coverage across large rural areas, and a number of towns and cities run their own police departments. Sheriffs fill the gaps by patrolling under contract, transporting people and serving court papers.

Because sheriffs are elected, priorities can shift after an election. A new sheriff may change which towns receive contract patrols or how the office schedules transport requests. If you depend on a particular service, confirm current practice with the office instead of relying on an old assumption.

This directory holds 20 sheriff records that cover all 14 counties. Some counties appear twice because a department has both a street office and a mailing address. Lamoille County, for example, shows 162 Commonwealth Avenue in Hyde Park and a separate PO Box 96 entry, both with the phone number 802-888-3502. When two entries look like duplicates, call the number shown and ask which one is the walk-in office.

What a Vermont Sheriff's Department Handles Day to Day

Most of a sheriff's workload is quieter than television suggests. Typical duties include:

Vermont's correctional facilities are run by the state Department of Corrections, not by sheriffs. Some records in our database, such as the Orange County Sheriffs Department / Orange County Jail entry in Chelsea and the Addison County Sheriffs Department / Addison County Jail entry in Middlebury, carry older jail wording in the name. For questions about an inmate's location, visiting or release, contact the Department of Corrections. Use the sheriff's office for transport, court papers and patrol matters.

For an emergency, dial 911. Vermont uses a statewide 911 system, and your call may be sent to state police, a town department or a sheriff's deputy depending on where you are. The phone numbers listed here are for routine business, not urgent danger.

Sheriffs in the Northeast Kingdom, the Lake Champlain Islands and Chittenden County

Geography shapes sheriff work in Vermont more than population does. Chittenden County around Burlington is the state's most populous county, and the Chittenden County Sheriffs Department operates from 70 Ethan Allen Drive in South Burlington (802-863-4341). Many Chittenden communities have their own police departments, so the sheriff's work there leans toward transport, process service and court support. Details for the area are on our Chittenden County page.

Rutland County is a regional hub for southwestern Vermont. The Rutland County Sheriff's Office is at 88 Grove Street in Rutland, and a second record lists 108 Wales Street under the Rutland County Sheriffs Office name. Both use 802-775-8002. Many people travelling from smaller hill towns drive a good distance, so call ahead. See the Rutland County page for the full list.

The Northeast Kingdom is the opposite picture: wide spaces, long drives and few full-time municipal departments. The Orleans County Sheriff operates from 255 West Main Street in Newport (802-334-3333), close to the Canadian border, and a second record lists 5578 U.S. 5 in Newport. The Caledonia County Sheriff's Office is at 1126 Main Street in St. Johnsbury (802-748-6666), with another record on Second Street. Essex County, the state's least populous, is served by the Essex County Sheriff at 91 Courthouse Drive in Guildhall (802-676-3500). Guildhall is a small village, so call before driving there. Browse the Orleans County and Caledonia County pages for more.

The Lake Champlain islands add their own twist. The Grand Isle County Sheriffs Department is at 3677 U.S. 2 in North Hero (802-372-4482). A second record, Grand Isle County Sheriff's Office, uses PO Box 168 and a different number, 802-524-5993. The county is made of islands and a peninsula connected by bridges and causeways, so deputies cover long, narrow routes. Start with the street office number and keep the other as a backup. The Grand Isle County page shows both entries.

In Hyde Park, the county seat, the Lamoille County Sheriffs Department serves a county that includes Stowe and Morrisville. Working near the county courthouse means civil process and court transport are central to its day. In the southwest corner of the state, the Bennington County Sheriffs Department is at 212 Lincoln Street in Bennington (802-442-4900). Our Lamoille County page covers both Hyde Park records.

Practical Steps Before You Contact a Vermont Sheriff

A little preparation saves a wasted trip, especially in counties with small staffs.

First, find the right county. Sheriff jurisdiction follows county lines, so use the town where the person lives or where the case was filed. Court papers usually name the county court, and that is a good clue.

Second, call before you go. Deputies spend much of the day on the road, and not every office keeps a front counter staffed. Ask about hours, parking and whether you need an appointment.

Third, bring what the task requires. For a records request or a question about a paper, carry a photo ID and any court document or docket number. To have papers served, the court clerk or your attorney can explain the process. Service fees are set by state law, so ask the office for the current amount and accepted payment methods before you send anything.

Fourth, know what the sheriff does not handle. Vermont does not require a permit to carry a firearm, so sheriffs do not issue carry licenses. Crash reports come from whichever agency responded, and inmate questions go to the Department of Corrections. Public records requests fall under the Vermont Public Records Act; send them in writing to the office that holds the record.

If you are unsure which agency to call, start with the sheriff's office for your county. Staff can usually point you to the right state agency, court clerk or town clerk.

Sheriff offices in Vermont are independently elected county agencies responsible for law enforcement, jail operations, and civil process service. Each county in Vermont elects its own sheriff, who serves as the chief law enforcement officer for that county's unincorporated areas.

Sheriff locations are available in 15 cities across Vermont. They are spread across 14 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of sheriff office listings include St. Johnsbury, Rutland, Hyde Park, reflecting the population centers where multiple sub-offices or specialty divisions may be located.

Vermont residents should note that sheriff offices handle civil law enforcement functions — such as serving eviction notices and foreclosure papers — in addition to criminal law enforcement, so the sheriff office is often the correct point of contact for civil legal matters at the county level.

Sheriff by Counties

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If you are a Vermont resident looking to obtain a concealed carry permit, request a background check clearance letter, or serve legal documents through official channels, your county sheriff office is the starting point — contact them directly to confirm required documentation and current processing times.

Browse Sheriff by county across Vermont to find the nearest location.

Reading Vermont's County-Seat Sheriff Addresses and Their Quirks

Many sheriff's offices in Vermont sit in or near the county seat, close to the courthouse. The address pattern is easy to read once you know it. The Windham County Sheriff is on Jail Street in Newfane (802-365-4942). The Windsor County Sheriffs Department is at 62 Pleasant Street in Woodstock (802-457-5211). The Washington County Sheriffs Office is at 10 Elm Street in Montpelier (802-223-3001), in the capital city.

Farther north and west, the Franklin County Sheriffs Office is at 387 Fred Lake Road in St. Albans (802-524-2121), and the Addison County Sheriffs Department / Addison County Jail entry is at 35 Court Street in Middlebury (802-388-2981). Orange County has two records that share the number 802-685-4875: one at 11 Vermont 113 in Chelsea and one at 11 Jail House Road in Washington. Because the entries differ, call to confirm where to go before you drive.

Rural Vermont addresses often use route names such as U.S. 2, U.S. 5 or Vermont 113 instead of numbered streets. Enter the full address into your map app and check the town name, since a few villages share road names. Winter weather can also change travel plans quickly in the hill country, so a short phone call is worth making first.

Start with the county. Every Vermont town belongs to exactly one of the 14 counties, and each county has one elected sheriff. If you are unsure of your county, ask your town clerk or check a court notice. Then find the matching entry in this directory and call the listed number. If your town has its own police department, that department handles most local calls, but the county sheriff still serves court papers and handles transport across the whole county. When a county shows two listings, call the first number and confirm the walk-in address.

No. Vermont does not require a permit or license for an adult who may lawfully possess a firearm to carry one, so there is no county permit counter and sheriffs do not issue carry licenses. If you buy from a licensed dealer, the dealer runs the federal background check. A sheriff's office can explain local procedures, such as how to report a lost or stolen firearm. For questions about what the law allows, speak with a lawyer or the Vermont Office of the Attorney General rather than relying on a phone answer from a deputy.

Sheriffs and their deputies commonly serve summonses, complaints, subpoenas and similar civil papers issued by Vermont courts. The right office is usually the one in the county where the person to be served lives or works. Service fees are set by state law and can change, so call the office, such as the Rutland County Sheriff's Office or the Windham County Sheriff, for the current amount and payment options. Ask the court clerk or your attorney which documents to bring and how many copies the court expects. Allow extra time, because deputies attempt service around patrol and transport duties.

Usually not. Vermont's correctional facilities are operated by the state Department of Corrections, so questions about location, visiting rules, mail or release dates go there. Some listings, including the Orange County and Addison County records, still carry the word jail in their names, but that does not mean the sheriff runs a lockup. Hearing dates come from the court clerk or the person's attorney. A sheriff's office can help with questions about court transport or a paper that a deputy delivered, but expect privacy limits on what staff can share.

A sheriff is elected by the voters of one county and focuses on civil process, transport, courthouse duties and contract patrols. The Vermont State Police is a statewide agency within the Department of Public Safety, with troopers who patrol highways, respond to calls in towns without full-time police, and investigate serious crimes. Their coverage overlaps in rural areas such as the Northeast Kingdom. If you need help right now, call 911 and let dispatch choose the responding agency. For paperwork, go to the county sheriff.

Several departments are recorded under more than one address or name. Lamoille County has a street address on Commonwealth Avenue and a PO Box in Hyde Park. Grand Isle County lists 3677 U.S. 2 and a PO Box in North Hero, with different phone numbers. Orleans County has two Newport addresses, and Caledonia County has entries on Main Street and Second Street in St. Johnsbury. These usually reflect a main office, a mailing address or a recent move. Call the number first and confirm where to go before you visit or mail documents.