Laconia Zoning Board upholds director’s revocation of short‑term rental permit at 11 Lewis Street

The Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment on Oct. 20 denied an appeal of the Planning and Community Development director’s decision and upheld the revocation of a short‑term lodging permit for 11 Lewis Street.

The board voted to deny application ZB2026‑012 and to uphold the director’s revocation after hearing testimony from Planning Director Robert Moore, the permit holders and multiple neighbors who described repeated problems at the property.

Moore told the board he issued a short‑term lodging permit on Oct. 25, 2024, with a maximum permitted occupancy of six people. He said the city issued a series of violation letters beginning Nov. 7, 2024, and continuing through July 31 and Aug. 18, 2025, for advertised occupancy in excess of the approved limit and for listing the owner’s primary residence as Massachusetts. Moore said the ordinance provides that “the first violation will result in a written warning, the second in a civil penalty…and the third in a revocation,” and that the owner did not file timely appeals of the earlier violation letters, so the violations “stand.” He asked the board to uphold his revocation.

Applicants Oluwadi and Britney Oluwadi told the board they believed at least some complaints were inaccurate or based on neighbors’ objections to having a short‑term rental nearby. Britney Oluwadi said a property manager briefly advertised a higher occupancy on a listing site and that she corrected it after being contacted by staff; she acknowledged the advertising discrepancy was the only violation she agreed was valid. The applicants said they did not know each violation letter could be appealed within 30 days and said they would have appealed had they known.

Several nearby residents described safety and nuisance concerns. Carol Varney, an abutter, said fireworks set off at the property on July 4–5 rained debris onto her deck and that people at the property were “highly intoxicated” and threatening. Ward 1 Councilor Bruce Cheney said he reviewed the call‑for‑service and confirmed police responded. Other neighbors said the house is frequently empty during weekdays and often rented on weekends, contradicting the owner‑occupied requirement of 150 days per year in the short‑term lodging rules.

After public comment and rebuttal by the applicants, the board deliberated. Members said the record showed multiple written violations concerning occupancy and the owner’s claimed residence; because the applicants did not appeal those violation letters within the 30‑day window described in Moore’s enforcement letters, the board concluded Moore followed the ordinance and upheld the revocation.

The board motion to deny application ZB2026‑012 and uphold the director’s decision passed with an affirmative vote of 3‑0; one board member recused himself because he lives on White Oaks Road. The revocation remains in effect for one year under the ordinance provision Moore read to the board.

The board’s decision was limited to whether the director’s revocation was proper; Moore noted the board’s authority is to review the director’s administrative decision under state law and the city ordinance.

No court challenge or follow‑up action was announced at the meeting.