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Keene City Hall

Community Development

Land Development Code

City of Keene Land Development Code (Amended February 2025)

The Keene Land Development Code (LDC) is Chapter 100 of the City Code of Ordinances and contains most local regulations concerning the use and development of land and buildings. The Code includes, but is not limited to, the following regulations:

  • Zoning (Articles 2-19 & Sections 26.3 – 26.9)
  • Subdivision (Article 20 & Section 26.10)
  • Site Plan / Site Development Standards (Article 21 & Section 26.12)
  • Historic District (Article 22 & Section 26.15)
  • Public Infrastructure (Article 23 & Section 26.16)
  • Floodplain (Article 24 & Section 26.17)
  • Earth Excavation (Article 25 & Section 26.19)

Adopted Ordinances Not Yet Codified

Please click the link(s) below to view any ordinances that have been enacted but not yet codified in the published Land Development Code.

Ordinance O-2025-15-A – Relating to amendments to the LDC to encourage housing development. This ordinance amends the Neighborhood Business District intent statement, minimum lot size, and setbacks; Allows multifamily dwellings in the Medium Density District of up to 6 units; allows dwelling units on the ground floor in the Downtown Growth District if located behind tenantable commercial space or the Build-to Zone; and, establishes rules for split-zoned parcels. Amended sections include: 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 8.3.1(C). This ordinance created a new section 1.3.9 “Lots Split by Zoning District Boundaries.” Adopted by City Council on September 18, 2025.

Ordinance O-2025-20-A – Relating to Setbacks and Build-to Dimensions. This ordinance clarifies that setbacks apply to all buildings or structures on a lot. In addition, it amends the build-to dimensions to apply only to principal buildings or principal structures, with limited exceptions. Adopted by City Council on September 18, 2025.

Ordinance O-2025-21-A – Relating to Definitions of Accessory Structure, Setbacks and Build-to Dimensions. This ordinance modifies the definitions of accessory structure and setbacks to clarify that the definitions apply to all structures. It also modified the definitions of build-to dimensions to only apply to principal buildings and principal structures. Adopted by City Council on September 18, 2025.

Ordinance O-2025-26 – Relating to Land Development Code Application Procedures. Adopted by City Council on September 18, 2025.

Enforcement of Earth Excavation Regulations – At their meeting on July 28, 2025, the Planning Board voted unanimously to authorize Code Enforcement Staff to enforce the Earth Excavation Regulations in Article 25 of the Land Development Code, including any current complaints and all future complaints.

Background

The Land Development Code (LDC) was adopted in May of 2021 with Ordinance 2020-10B, along with the remapping of the City’s downtown zoning districts with Ordinance 2020-11A, and became fully effective throughout Keene on September 1, 2021. The purpose and intent of the LDC is to protect, promote, and improve the public health, safety and general welfare of the City of Keene and its inhabitants, and to facilitate orderly development and the compatible use of land that will result in a strong viable economy, enhance the attractiveness of the community, preserve the quality and function of natural systems and maintain and enhance quality of life in the City of Keene, while not imposing unreasonable costs upon the City.

Comparison of Current Downtown Zoning to Zoning Prior to 9/1/21