New HampshireTowns must allow multiple homes on commercial land, with limits
New Hampshire towns and cities must allow multiple homes on commercial land with adequate infrastructure, but may reject unsafe projects or restrict housing in zones permitting incompatible industrial uses.
What it does
Towns and cities must allow buildings with multiple homes on commercial land with adequate roads, water, and sewage systems. They may restrict housing in zones permitting incompatible industrial uses.
Planning boards may require traffic studies and permission to connect to utilities. They may reject projects for unsafe roads, inadequate water, an adjoining well's insufficient supply, or sewage problems.
Buildings converted into multiple homes or homes combined with other uses receive exemptions from height, boundary-distance, and street frontage rules. Their floor space, height, and boundary distances must stay unchanged.
Argument forAllowing homes on commercial land could give property owners more housing options where roads, water, and sewage systems can support them.
Argument againstRequired traffic studies and permission to connect to water and sewer systems could add time and work for builders seeking housing approval.
More detail
Towns and cities must allow buildings with multiple homes on commercially zoned land when adequate roads, water, and sewage systems are available. This requirement covers commercially zoned land in New Hampshire. Applicants may provide missing infrastructure under applicable rules. Towns and cities may restrict housing in zones that permit industrial or manufacturing uses with incompatible effects, such as noise, odors, or heavy traffic. Towns and cities may reserve some or all available ground-floor space for shops or similar uses. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m.
Planning boards may check infrastructure and deny housing applications for specified traffic, water, or sewage problems. These powers cover applications for buildings with multiple homes on commercially zoned land. Boards may require a traffic study, permission to connect to public water or sewer systems, or a water supply that meets applicable rules. Boards may deny projects if roads cannot handle traffic when construction ends, the design fails to protect pedestrians, or sewage disposal cannot meet applicable rules. Boards may also deny projects if the applicant cannot secure water or an adjoining well owner shows that their well cannot meet existing demand. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m.
Towns and cities must exempt eligible building conversions from certain zoning rules. The exemption covers buildings reused for multiple homes or homes combined with other uses. It covers height, distance from property boundaries, and street frontage—the width facing a street. The building's total floor space, height, and distance from property boundaries must remain unchanged. The conversion exemption takes effect July 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 20Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 319; eff.7/1/2026 12:01 a.m.Became Law
- Jul 6Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15To Governor
- Jul 6Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 56
- Jun 23Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2185e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 52
- Jun 23Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2185e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14Major
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report # 2026-2075c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
- Jun 4HB 1010 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report 2026-2075c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 31
- May 28Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2075c; 06/04/2026
- May 26Conference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 10:00 am GP 230
- May 22Conferee Change: Rep. Presa Replaces Rep. Cole 05/22/2026 HJ 14 P. 34
- May 20President Appoints: Senators Innis, Murphy, Reardon; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
- May 20Sen. Innis Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
- May 14Speaker Appoints: Reps. Alexander Jr., Cole, Kuttab, Hicks 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 148
- Vote recorded Floor Amendment. Result: fail.Upper
- May 14House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1712s and Requests CofC (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 148
- May 14Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1712s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12Passed Senate
- May 14Sen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2026-1907s, RC 8Y-15N, AF; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
- May 14Committee Amendment # 2026-1712s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
- May 7Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1712s, 05/14/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 18Minor
- May 7Special Order to 05/14/2026, Without Objection, MA; 05/07/2026 SJ 11
- May 7HB 1010 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
- Apr 30Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1712s, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17Minor
- Apr 16Hearing: 04/21/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 15
- Feb 25Introduced 02/19/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 5Minor
- Feb 19Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0274h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 21Passed House
- Feb 19Amendment # 2026-0274h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 21
- Feb 10Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0274h (NT) 02/03/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 7 P. 14Minor
- Jan 28Executive Session: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
- Jan 8Public Hearing: 01/13/2026 01:30 pm GP 231
- 2025
- Nov 7Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Housing HJ 1 P. 2Introduced
Housing