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Council sets public hearing on short‑term lodging rules after debate over single‑family zones
Summary
The City Council held a first reading on a zoning amendment clarifying short‑term lodging rules, discussed prohibiting short‑term rentals in single‑family (RSO) zones and changing the short‑term threshold to 28 days, and scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 23, 2026.
The Laconia City Council conducted a first reading Feb. 9 of Ordinance 2026‑235‑4170, a zoning amendment intended to clarify conflicting language in the city's short‑term lodging regulations and to broaden the Zoning Board of Adjustment's discretion.
Planning staff and the city manager recommended the ordinance be discussed by the council and then sent to a public hearing before returning to the Planning Board for additional review. Councilor Hoffman, the council liaison to the zoning board, said the change "gives the zoning board the ability to preserve the character of neighborhoods" by permitting denials in certain cases.
Several councilors asked that residential single‑family zones (RSO) be added to the list of zones where short‑term lodging would be prohibited; planning staff said they could draft that change and post updated language for the public hearing. Councilors also discussed changing the definition of "short‑term" from 15 consecutive days to 28 days.
The council waived full reading, held a first reading by title, and voted to schedule a public hearing for Feb. 23, 2026, to collect public comment before any final action. No final vote was taken; the ordinance will return after public hearings and Planning Board review for potential final adoption.
