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Nantucket voters recently approved a ballot measure that legalizes short-term rentals island-wide without restrictions. This vote, which occurred in November 2025, resolves years of debate and legal uncertainty over the issue. The measure passed with 71% of the vote, securing the two-thirds majority needed to adopt the bylaw.
Key details of the vote
Final vote:
A Special Town Meeting in November 2025 saw residents vote to allow short-term rentals by right across Nantucket.
Outcome:
The measure passed with a vote of 1045 to 421, or 71% support.
Result:
This outcome legalizes short-term rentals without any restrictions on properties, settling the debate that had been ongoing for years.
Previous history:
Prior attempts to regulate short-term rentals had failed in previous votes, often because they failed to reach the required two-thirds majority, despite receiving majority support in some instances.
Legal context:
The vote also brings closure to legal challenges regarding whether short-term rentals were a lawful use under the town's zoning bylaws. The town subsequently dropped its appeal in one such case following the vote.
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