🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Londonderry, VT
Londonderry Heads to Special Vote on STR Limits
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Londonderry Heads to Special Vote on STR Limits
The debate over short-term rentals in Londonderry, Vermont, is coming to a head. A special town meeting on Saturday, July 19, will decide whether to keep or toss a slate of amendments to the town’s STR ordinance — and locals on both sides are fired up.
The amendments in question, first approved by the Select Board back in April 2025, were intended to tighten regulations on STRs especially newly purchased ones. But not everyone is thrilled. A petition-driven pushback is targeting two specific changes: a one-year waiting period before a new property can be registered as an STR and a 50-night rental cap for newly purchased “un-hosted” rentals (units not occupied by the owner).
Critics, including local real estate agent Jessica Citera, argue the restrictions could deal a blow to Londonderry’s fragile economy. With just 42 hotel rooms in the entire town, she says STRs play a vital role in keeping tourism afloat — and that tourism keeps small businesses alive.
“We’re a rural town. Our local shops, restaurants, and job opportunities rely heavily on visitors,” Citera said. “If we cut off STRs, we cut off the lifeblood of our economy.”
On the flip side, supporters of the amendments say it’s about preserving the town’s housing stock and stopping investors from snapping up homes solely for short-term profit. Select Board Chairman Tom Cavanagh said the changes stemmed from concerns over outsiders “buying up property solely for STR use and never even setting foot in town.”
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The amendments also include a cap on how many STRs each person can register: two for residents, one for non-residents, and new fire safety requirements like Knox boxes and state fire code compliance. Existing STR owners wouldn’t lose their registrations, but new buyers would be subject to the new rules if the amendments hold.
Housing advocates like Patty Eisenhaur of the Londonderry Housing Commission support the changes, saying they’re needed to keep year-round housing available.
“It’s about keeping balance — we need tourism, but we also need homes for full-time residents,” she said.
The outcome of Saturday’s floor vote will determine the future of these amendments. The meeting kicks off at 9:30 a.m. at Town Hall, 139 Middletown Road. The results could shape the future of STRs in Londonderry and set a tone for how other small towns across Vermont respond to the tourism-versus-housing crunch.
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