Act 109 Ushers in a Fair Ticket Resale Market for Vermonters

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Vermont’s new ticket resale law goes into effect today, July 1, 2026. This landmark legislation, Act 109, creates guardrails on the event ticket resale market that protect Vermont’s venues, artists, and fans. Thank you to all the advocates, musicians, venues, fans, legislators, and artists who came together to craft legislation that works for Vermont. The Vermont Creative Network has worked to shape and advocate for Act 109 from the start, and now we can break down the details of what this new law means for you. 

What does this law do?

This law creates a fair, transparent marketplace for event ticket sales and protects both consumers and venues from the deceptive resale practices that are harming Vermonters and Vermont’s performing arts industry. Act 109: 

• Bans speculative ticket sales: Resellers are putting tickets on the resale market before the ticket is even on sale by the venue. It is now illegal to resell a ticket that you do not possess.  

• Puts a 10% resale price cap on any tickets resold by a ticket reseller or on a secondary ticket exchange: This law defines “ticket resellers” as businesses who resell tickets. It defines “secondary ticket exchange” as “an electronic marketplace enabling the sale, purchase, and resale of tickets,” which means a ticket resale website. It is now illegal for any business reselling tickets or any website reselling tickets to list that ticket for 10% above the original price of the ticket (the original price is the total that includes taxes and fees). For example, if you paid $100 for a ticket, including taxes and fees, you can now resell that ticket on a resale website for $110.  

• Requires that venues print the total original price on the ticket: Primary ticket sellers, which are the venue that sold the original ticket, must now print the total cost right on the ticket. This will help consumers to know if they have paid more than 10% above the original price for a resale ticket.  

• Requires clear and transparent disclosure from secondary ticket exchanges: Any ticket resale website must make it clear to consumers that it is a resale website. Ticket resale websites may no longer use language like “tickets going fast” to falsely entice people to buy resale tickets.  

• Bans deceptive URLs and improper use of intellectual property to resell tickets: It is now illegal to use deceptive URLs to make it look like you’re buying from the original venue, when you’re really buying from a reseller. And resellers cannot use the logo or likeness of the Vermont venue without permission when trying to resell a ticket.  

Other Key Questions

What venues does the price cap apply to?

The price cap on resale tickets applies to tickets for events taking place at all venues in Vermont. While the law specifies the size and type of venue (in section c-3), the language covers every existing event venue in Vermont.  

Are any tickets sold on a secondary ticket market exempt from the price cap?

If a venue has a signed contract with a ticket resale platform, that resale platform is exempt from the price cap. That is not the case in almost all venues in the state, so it is safe to err on the side of assuming that the price cap applies to the ticket you’re trying to buy if you found it on a resale platform. If you have a question, contact the venue that was selling the original ticket.

I have a ticket I can’t use; can I still resell it?

Yes! Things happen and everyone should be able to resell a ticket if they can’t use it. Individuals can resell a ticket directly to another individual, at any price, with no price cap. If you are using a secondary ticket exchange, you can still re-sell your ticket, but only at 10% above the original price (including taxes and fees) that you paid for the ticket.  

How will this law be enforced?

Violations of this law will be enforced under Vermont’s Consumer Protection Law (9 V.S.A. chapter 63, subchapter 2B, to be specific). The Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program will investigate and enforce violations of this law as an unfair trade practice. Filing a complaint is the first step in the enforcement process, so it is crucial that consumers and venues report any issues (see below for details). Violations will be subject to penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.  

Why does this law matter?

This law restores fairness to the event ticket market by preventing the fraud, deception, and extreme price gouging that is currently failing Vermont consumers and costing Vermonters and Vermont’s small businesses. Vermonters have too many stories of unknowingly overpaying for resale tickets – from a grandmother trying to buy tickets to her grandchild’s production of the Nutcracker to a Lake Monsters fan paying $60 for a $14 ticket and many more. Inflated resale prices take money out of the hands of artists and venues and straight into the pockets of out of state resellers and resale platforms. Vermonters deserve a fair, transparent resale ticket market.  

Buying Tickets Safely and Reporting Violations

I run an event venue in Vermont. What should I do now?

• Ensure that the total cost, including taxes and fees, is printed on all tickets. 
• Encourage ticket buyers to report any issues to the Consumer Assistance Program. 
• Take screenshots of any resale listings you see that you think are in violation of the law and report them to the Consumer Assistance Program. 

I am buying a ticket for a live event in Vermont. What should I look for?

• Double check that you are buying a ticket from the venue and not a reseller.  
• If you are buying from a resale website, check the ticket price printed on the ticket to ensure that the website is not charging more than 10% above the original price of the ticket.  

I think I’ve been scammed. What should I do?

• Document your experience. Take screenshots of the resale listings that violate this law and keep receipts for tickets that you purchased.  
• Contact the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program. You can file a consumer complaint on their website. Enforcement of this law is complaint driven. The first step is to file a complaint which will trigger an investigation by the Consumer Assistance Program team.  

Vermont is leading the way on protecting artists, event venues, and fans. Act 109 is currently the strongest legislation of its kind in the nation. This was only possible because of the support of so many Vermonters who believe that venues, performers, and audiences deserve a fair market for live events.  

With fair, transparent access to tickets, we’ll have more live events, more time together, and more joy. And we hope to see you all at live events in Vermont this summer!