New Hampshire allows local approval of tiny homes and yurts

Towns may approve tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels, and yurts as main homes or extra homes on the same property. Tiny houses have no more than 600 square feet of floor area, excluding lofts. Tiny houses on wheels use trailers without engines. Yurts are designed as permanent or long-term homes. Main homes must be on lots where single-family homes are allowed. Extra homes must follow the state's accessory dwelling rules, and all local land use requirements apply. Tiny houses must meet state tiny home building standards and rest on stable ground or a foundation. Covered homes must meet state drinking water and wastewater requirements. These provisions took effect September 13, 2026.

Local officials must accept approval issued under this law for factory-built parts that meet the state building code when deciding whether a home can be occupied. Homes built at their final site must meet the state building code. The off-site construction definition excludes federally labeled manufactured housing, recreational vehicles, park trailers, and buildings outside nationally recognized model building codes. Factory-built parts must follow state building code review and inspection rules or the state modular building program, which the applicant may choose. Reviews and inspections may be performed by a certified residential building inspector serving the New Hampshire town where the factory is located, or by the state fire marshal or a designee. The modular building definition excludes single-wide structures under 750 square feet unless used as classrooms. These provisions took effect September 13, 2026.

Builders may use dealer plates or temporary trailer plates to move covered homes. This permission covers moves from the building site to the home site and, if the home is sold, from one home site to another. The home must be permanently built on a flatbed trailer chassis, and the trailer must meet all roadworthiness requirements. Temporary trailer plates must come from the department of motor vehicles. This permission took effect September 13, 2026.

State officials must adopt wastewater rules for these homes, and the New Hampshire building code review board must update the state building code. Wastewater rules cover tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels, and yurts. Building code updates must reflect sections 1 through 5 of the law. Rules for the modular building program must address the application of ICC/MBI Standards 1200 and 1205, two named building standards. These duties took effect September 13, 2026. The law does not give a separate deadline for completing the rules.