Lanesborough Appoints New Assistant Building Inspector, Advances Short-Term Rental Bylaw

LANESBOROUGH -- February 25, 2026, Lanesborough Select Board unanimously appointed Timothy Sears as assistant building inspector and heard a detailed Planning Board update on a short-term rental bylaw heading toward the June 9 Annual Town Meeting. Planning Board member Joe Tribus told the board that short-term rentals, defined in the draft bylaw as stays of 31 days or fewer, are currently in a legal gray zone under Lanesborough zoning because they were never expressly permitted, a problem Tribus said surfaced through Nantucket case law. The draft package the Planning Board expects to bring to town meeting would allow STR operation up to 365 days per year, set parking minimums of one off-street space for a three-bedroom and three spaces for a five-bedroom, and permit accessory dwelling units to operate as STRs; registration requirements and ownership limits remain tabled. "Nobody knew" short-term rentals were not allowed, Tribus said, adding that only 98 people attended the last town meeting. The board also approved a curb-cut permit for Lot 9 on Partridge Road, five one-day liquor licenses for events at the Venue at Skyline, and four financial warrants totaling approximately $667,690.