How to Hire a Private Detective in Vermont

Vermont licensing at a glance

Vermont licenses private detectives through the Office of Professional Regulation, part of the Secretary of State's office.

Step by step: hiring in Vermont

1. Define your question. What do you need to know, and what decision depends on it?
2. Verify licensing. Look the detective up on the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (Private Investigative and Security Services) website rather than relying on a license number shown in an ad. Confirm the license is active and check the agency license as well as the individual's where both exist.
3. Agree on scope and cost in writing. Know what will be done, for how long, and what you'll receive.
4. Share what you know. Names, addresses, photos, vehicles and schedules save billable hours.
5. Insist on lawful methods. Vermont has no specific recording statute, and recording rules there are unsettled. Treat recording as a question for counsel. Detectives shouldn't hack accounts, pretext for records, trespass or track phones.

What affects the cost of an investigation in Vermont

Vermont spans 14 counties. Surveillance in a dense area like Burlington may call for two detectives to keep a subject in view, while work in rural counties can involve more travel time. Records research that requires courthouse visits in several counties takes longer than searches available online.

Most surveillance is billed hourly plus expenses such as mileage; defined research tasks are often flat-fee. Our cost guide explains pricing in detail.

Questions to ask a Vermont detective

• Are you licensed for work in Vermont, and who will actually do the work?
• How often do you handle matters like mine in Vermont?
• How do you handle recording and tracking under Vermont law?
• Which county courts or records will you need, and how long will that take?
• What will the report include, and could you testify if needed?

More questions are in our list of 15 questions to ask before hiring.

Where we coordinate work in Vermont

Mooney & Boland coordinates investigations throughout Vermont, including Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, Montpelier and Barre. See private detective services in Vermont for coverage and services.

Local pages for Vermont communities:

Common questions

Sources

• Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (Private Investigative and Security Services) (official regulator)
• Justia: Recording Phone Calls and Conversations, 50-State Survey

Reviewed November 2026.