SB 564 prohibits municipalities from restricting maximum road length (as long as state fire code standards are met) or imposing numerical limits on housing lots in dead-end streets. It also requires municipalities to allow utilities (like septic systems and power lines) in designated open space or buffer areas of subdivisions, excluding wetlands and protected shoreland. The bill directly affects local governments and developers by removing specific development barriers that increase housing costs. It does not override fire code, environmental protections under RSA 482-A or RSA 483-B, or municipal authority to enforce health/safety standards.
HB 1012 repeals existing state laws that defined and permitted accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) in New Hampshire. The bill removes specific legal provisions (RSA 674:71, 674:72, and 674:73) that allowed these secondary housing units on single-family properties. This repeal would directly affect property owners who previously could build ADUs or DADUs as independent living spaces on their lots. The bill does not create new rules but eliminates the legal framework that enabled these unit types, taking effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1764 sets annual workforce housing targets for New Hampshire municipalities (cities, towns, and unincorporated areas) based on factors like available land, infrastructure access, and proximity to jobs. Municipalities failing to meet 50% of their cumulative target by 2028 must review zoning barriers and develop improvement plans, and may face a special property tax on high-value properties ($1.5M+). The tax revenue funds a revolving loan program offering below-market-rate financing to developers for workforce housing projects and related infrastructure upgrades. This bill directly affects local governments and housing developers by creating accountability measures and new funding streams for affordable housing.
HB 1661 expands New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority's "Community Heroes" program to provide homeownership assistance to essential workers. It appropriates $750,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $1.5 million annually thereafter from the General Fund to fund the program, with no more than 10% allowed for administrative costs. The program specifically targets eligible workers in healthcare, childcare, elder care, law enforcement, firefighting, education, and active military service, allowing them to use funds for down payments, closing costs, or interest rate reductions. The bill requires the Housing Finance Authority to establish rules defining eligibility and takes effect July 1, 2028, for the annual appropriation.
HB 1450 clarifies and updates rules for residential rental properties with shared common areas like kitchens or bathrooms. It requires written documentation confirming a property is a "shared facility" (where tenants share significant spaces), expands the definition to include renters ("lessees") in designation decisions, and defines "owner" to cover both landlords and renters managing these spaces. The bill specifically applies to standard residential rentals (excluding short-term vacation rentals, hotels, dorms, or institutional housing like shelters). Key changes include making the shared facility status formal in writing and ensuring both renters and landlords have a role in the designation process.
HB 1598 creates a streamlined eviction process for landlords seeking to remove tenants who fail to pay rent or breach leases in ways affecting health/safety, criminal activity, or drug-related offenses. It requires landlords to provide a 5-day notice with a clear warning about the expedited timeline, giving tenants only 3 days to respond after court filing. If tenants don’t pay or vacate, courts must issue a writ of possession immediately without a hearing - unless the tenant pays all overdue rent within 48 hours. This process limits defenses to just rent payment or the alleged breach, blocking unrelated claims, and restricts stays of execution except for immediate payment. The bill applies to all landlords and tenants in qualifying eviction cases, effective January 1, 2027.
HB 1588 establishes a process for cities and towns to create special assessment districts to fund infrastructure improvements (like roads, water, and sewer systems) directly tied to new housing developments. Municipalities can finance these projects through property assessments on benefiting parcels - collected over up to 20 years - without using general tax revenue. The bill also expands an existing state grant program to fund municipal infrastructure upgrades for new housing, with a $1 appropriation for fiscal year 2027. This directly affects municipalities planning new housing projects and property owners within designated districts who may face assessments based on their specific benefit from improvements.
HB 1357 permits the placement of new manufactured homes on individual lots in all residentially zoned areas across New Hampshire without requiring special local permits. The bill defines "new manufactured homes" as those built after 1976 under federal safety standards and not previously placed, and requires all municipalities to update zoning ordinances to allow these homes within one year. Municipalities must apply the same general lot size and design standards to manufactured homes as to traditional homes but may set more flexible requirements, such as smaller lot sizes, for manufactured housing. This law directly affects homeowners seeking affordable housing options and municipalities responsible for zoning enforcement.
HB 1681 establishes clear rules for tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), and yurts as legal housing options in New Hampshire. It defines these structures (capping tiny houses at 400 square feet, requiring compliance with building codes, and distinguishing them from recreational vehicles), mandates inspections similar to standard homes, and allows them to be used as primary or accessory dwellings on single-family lots. Municipalities must assess property taxes for these structures after 180 days of permanent placement, and the bill regulates their transport and grey water systems. This directly affects homeowners, developers, and local governments by creating standardized pathways for these innovative housing types.
HB 1662 requires New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority (HFA) to offer loan guarantees for accessory dwelling unit (ADU) development. The bill directs the HFA to provide guarantees covering 80-100% of a loan amount based on the completed ADU's appraised value, with an annual cap of $100 million in total guarantees. It directly affects ADU developers and homeowners seeking financing, as well as approved lenders participating in the program. The bill appropriates $25,000 for administrative costs in fiscal years 2027 and 2028, funded from the General Fund.
