Lanesborough Planning Board Advances Short-Term Rental and ADU Bylaws Toward June Vote

LANESBOROUGH -- February 3, 2026, Lanesborough's Planning Board workshopped short-term rental and accessory dwelling unit bylaws Tuesday, narrowing positions ahead of an April 27 warrant-article deadline for the June 9 annual town meeting. Chair Courtney Dondi and her four fellow members agreed that rentals of 31 days or fewer would constitute a short-term rental, that a town registration program would be tied to the state-mandated certificate of inspection rather than a standalone fee, and that LLCs and corporations would be permitted to register, with caps of two properties per entity in residential zones and four outside residential zones. On the contested question of an annual day cap, members ranged from Joe Travis's position of 365 unlimited days to Leanne Yeager's proposal of 110 to 150 days; Dondi floated 190 days with a special permit required above that threshold. On ADUs, the board directed consultant Andrew to revise draft Article 165-41 to raise the hard cap from 900 to 1,200 square feet and change the floor-area ratio from one-third to one-half of the principal dwelling, matching the state minimum. Building Inspector Brian Duvall confirmed that owners wishing to build a structure larger than their existing home can designate the new building as the principal dwelling and reclassify the original as the ADU. The board also placed clean energy zoning, required under the 2024 climate law and due by year-end, on the March agenda, with Duvall warning that state inspection standards including sprinkler requirements could deter most current Airbnb operators from registering even if a bylaw passes.