Rules for short-term rentals set for Rindge ballot

Planning Board members Roberta Oeser and Joel Aho review proposed amendments.

Planning Board members Roberta Oeser and Joel Aho review proposed amendments. STAFF PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI

By ASHLEY SAARI

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Published: 01-09-2025 11:32 AM

After making changes based on resident feedback last month, the Rindge Planning Board held a second hearing Tuesday regarding changes to the town’s short-term rental rules.

The board held its first hearing on seven proposed zoning amendments on Dec. 3, and passed the majority of them to the warrant unchanged. The only article that underwent any substantive change was the article on short-term rentals, requiring a second hearing. The main change made to the amendment during the Dec. 3 meeting was putting a number on what the maximum occupancy of a short-term rental should be – ultimately settling on up to three people per bedroom.

Currently, the town’s zoning ordinance has very few rules pertaining to short-term rentals, which include renting properties through Airbnb and Vrbo. The current ordinance allows them, with rentals for up to 30 days, but does not have much regulation. This has led to issues, according to Planning Board members, who said that neighbors have complained of over-filled rentals and noise.

"There's been issues, especially around the lakes,” said Planning Board Chair Roberta Oeser. “The way our zoning was – I still can’t believe it was written this way – our zoning just allowed them.” Oeser said while not as comprehensive as ordinances adopted by other towns, the amendment gave the town at least “some regulation,” and issues such as noise and affecting property value are addressed in the site plan review and conditional use permit process.

The new language would clarify that short-term rentals are a commercial use and require a site plan approval and conditional use permit issued by the Planning Board. The new language stated that the rental “be in compliance with all local ordinances, regulations and applicable state laws and rules.” The conditional use permit process would take into account whether the property is suitable for rental, including whether it has adequate septic, water supply, adequate on-site parking and undergoing a life safety inspection.

Some residents who rent their properties who attended Tuesday’s hearing, questioning whether they would be allowed to continue to rent their properties if the amendment passed until they were able to go through the process. Jim Burns, who rents a property he owns in Rindge, said there should be a "grace period" while established renters go through the process.

Oeser said the amendment would go into effect immediately, but said the town was unlikely to immediately start enforcing it, acknowledging that gaining the correct approvals could take up to a few months.

If the town adopts the ordinance, the Planning Board has discussed a separate process for adopting regulations for short-term rentals with more specific rules.

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The board approved the amendment to be put on the March warrant with no further changes. All amendments will be voted on on March 11 at the ballot box and require a majority vote to pass.

 Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.