Summary
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.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 7
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 14, 2026.
Impact analysis
The city may spend roughly $400/year on AirDNA data to track short-term rental trends; Keene received about $2.25 million in state rooms-and-meals tax distributions.
Property owners who want rental income, and visitors needing a place to stay, benefit from legal short-term rentals.
Some members worried that allowing whole-house, non-hosted rentals could slowly pull homes out of the long-term housing market.
Mentions & discussions (5)
Jt. Planning Board and PLD Committee - Sep 14, 2026
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.
Jt. Planning Board and PLD Committee - Jul 13, 2026
The city was considering a new ordinance that would officially define "Short-term Rental" and allow it by right, with limits, in most residential and business zones. This could make it easier to operate short-term rentals legally while setting standards for where and how they run.
Planning, Licenses and Development Committee - Jul 8, 2026
Two short-term rental ordinances (O-2026-09 and O-2026-10) were on the agenda as more-time items but were never reached before adjournment.
Jt. Planning Board and PLD Committee - Mar 9, 2026
Changing the definition of 'family' creates ripples into rules on how many people can live in a unit, boarding houses, and short-term rentals. Staff said those sections won't change in this ordinance but will be revisited later — so more zoning changes are coming.
Jt. Planning Board and PLD Committee - Jan 12, 2026
Short-term rentals were slated for discussion, an issue that touches neighborhood character, housing supply, and any potential regulation of platforms like Airbnb.
Related development
0 Howard Street Zoning Map Amendment (Ordinance O-2026-13)
If adopted, the rezone stops housing on the lot and preserves the woods, wetland habitat and neighborhood privacy — but the city walks away from a development deal and worsens the housing squeeze.
Ordinance O-2026-09 — Short-term Rental Use Definition and Standards
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.
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