Equipment/Explosive Laws

(For mechanics about explosives, see the Equipment/Explosives page.)

Vermont Explosive Laws

For the very long and complicated statute taken directly from Vermont's legislature, please see the full legal writeup here.

Long story short, you need a permit, and if you don't have one, you're paying fines or going to jail.

Possession

• If you're within 50 rods (275 yards) of another building, and you have more than 50 lbs. of gunpowder or nitroglycerine at one time, or more than 1 lb. NOT contained in sound canisters, or a package containing more than 50 lbs. of dynamite, you'll get fined $25 a day.

Transportation

• You can't carry explosives on any vehicle/vessel which is also carrying paid customers.
• Exceptions: stuff like flares, for safety, but they can't exceed more than 0.5 lbs. each and you can't have any more than 20 of them on a single vehicle.
• Military can do whatever it wants.

Marking

• Explosives have to be clearly marked.

Possession by Employee

• Explosives being used by an employee who is acting within the scope of his job are considered to be owned by the employer.

Gaining Licenses/Permits

• Permits allow you to possess, purchase, use, store, transport, give, transfer or sell explosives.
• Be 18+.
• Have a reasonable/lawful purpose for all of those verbs up there.
• Within the past 7 years, you must NOT have been imprisoned for any offenses with 1+ year terms.
• You're not legally insane.
• You're competent with all the verbs up there.

Under a Permit

• You can't make, own or transport bombs like tear bombs without a written permit from the commissioner of public safety.