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New Hampshire · Through 2026 regular legislative session. Last updated: September 2026

RSA 674:21-b: Prohibition of Certain Municipal Development Restrictions.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title LXIV: PLANNING AND ZONING
  2. Chapter 674: LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING AND REGULATORY POWERS
  3. Zoning

I. Municipalities shall not limit maximum road length so as to impede development, provided that the proposed roadway or extension thereof fully complies with the state fire code.

II. Municipalities shall not impose a cap on the number of housing lots on a dead-end road or street unless such cap in compliance with the state fire code and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 1141, and provided that the proposed lots otherwise comply with current zoning restrictions or requirements.

III. Municipalities shall permit the placement of utilities, including but not limited to septic systems, wells, electric distribution, drainage structures, stormwater management structures, and other utilities, within or along any designated buffer areas, including but not limited to perimeter buffers, residential buffers, setbacks, and open space areas of a subdivision or lot, provided that such areas are not wetlands as defined in RSA 482-A:2, X and that such areas are not protected shoreland as defined in RSA 483-B:4, XV.

IV. Municipalities shall permit the placement of utilities, including but not limited to septic systems, wells, electric distribution, drainage structures, stormwater management structures, and other utilities or improvements appurtenant to any utility, within or along wetland buffers or conservation areas of a subdivision or lot by a special exception or conditional use permit, provided that such areas are not wetlands as defined in RSA 482-A:2, X and that such areas are not protected shoreland as defined in RSA 483-B:4, XV.

V. Municipalities shall not impose additional restrictions or requirements regarding building or lot size for affected properties before the effective date of this section.

VI. Nothing in this section shall be construed to otherwise limit the authority of municipalities to enforce generally applicable health, safety, environmental, or building standards; to conduct planning board and conservation commission review; or to impose reasonable conditions necessary to ensure compliance with the state fire code, RSA 483-B, or as otherwise required by state law.

Collected 2026-10-11T07:44:56Z. Source file · JSON

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