Downtown Keene from the sky during twilight

79-E Tax Relief Program

Blueprints of house with hammer
79-E Basics
House with Construction
The Process
Woman filling out a form with calculator
Qualifying for 79-E

Expanding Housing Incentives in Keene

What’s Ahead for 79-E Tax Relief

We are studying possible opportunities to:

  • Expand the existing 79-E district – A State program that allows municipalities to delay the increase in property taxes resulting from the property’s higher post-rehabilitation value.
  • Create a new Housing Opportunity Zone or Residential Revitalization Zone based on recent changes to RSA 79-E.

Community input, developer feedback, and real-world examples from other cities will help shape the program.

Project Timeline

  • June 2025 – Project launch
  • July–August – Research + interviews
  • September – City Council workshop – View Presentation
  • October – Draft program
  • Nov–Dec – Final proposal + Council review

Learn More

Email the Community Development Department or call us at (603) 352-5440

View full details in the 79-E Program Guide.

Keene is working to expand the use of New Hampshire’s 79-E tax relief program to support more housing development downtown and in nearby neighborhoods. As part of this initiative, the City and Barrett Planning Group are leveraging an InvestNH Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) grant to find new ways to use property tax incentives, attracting housing investment and advancing Keene’s long-term development goals. A proposal is expected to go to City Council in December 2025.