Ordinance O-2026-09 — Short-term Rental Use Definition and Standards
Keene
Description
A proposed zoning text amendment to define "Short-term Rental" and allow it by right with limitations in most residential and business districts citywide.
Impact summary
Existing Airbnb-style rentals stay legal, new ones can open in more districts including downtown, and the city commits to watching the data annually for signs of housing-stock loss.
Applicant
- Name
- City of Keene Community Development Department
At a glance
- Hearings
- 2
- Public comments
- 0
- Total mentions
- 2
Recorded in the meeting · Planning Commission
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 14, 2026.
Meeting timeline (2)
Jt. Planning Board and PLD Committee - Sep 14, 2026
The city proposes to define short-term rentals and allow them by right with limitations in most residential and commercial districts. The committee added Downtown Core and Downtown Growth by amendment, then advanced it 5-0 to a City Council public hearing.
Jt. Planning Board and PLD Committee - Jul 13, 2026
A city-proposed zoning text amendment creating a short-term rental definition and allowing the use by right with limitations in most residential and business districts. After heavy feedback, it was continued to September 14, 2026.
Related issues (3)
Short-term rental regulation (O-2026-09 and O-2026-10)
The council held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance governing short-term rental uses in Keene. This could affect homeowners who rent out their properties and neighbors concerned about neighborhood character.
Short-term rental regulations (Ordinance O-2026-09)
The city is moving to formally define and allow short-term rentals like Airbnbs across most zoning districts, after a state law change made them technically illegal under the old 'family' definition. With only about 80 active listings and no complaint pattern, the committee chose a light touch — but agreed to review the data annually, and added the Downtown Core and Growth districts at the last minute.
Neighborhood nuisances on Bergeron Avenue and Lower Winchester Street
Multiple residents described a cluster of properties rented room-by-room on month-to-month leases, with junk, unmowed lawns, parking on lawns, fires, and unknown transient occupants. Councilor Filiault said the issue is code enforcement and the 'new crappy neighbor problem' more than the zoning ordinance, and pledged continued work with the fire marshal and code enforcement.
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