Bill Text: NH HB457 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to zoning restrictions on dwelling units.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-10 - Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Housing House Journal 3 [HB457 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB457-Introduced.html
HB 457 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0876
09/08
HOUSE BILL 457
AN ACT relative to zoning restrictions on dwelling units.
SPONSORS: Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Bean, Belk. 6; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Farrington, Straf. 8; Rep. A. Murray, Hills. 20; Rep. Presa, Hills. 12; Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Reardon, Dist 15; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Housing
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ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits the adoption and enforcement of any zoning ordinance that restricts the number of occupants of a dwelling unit to fewer than 2 occupants per bedroom. The bill also prohibits the adoption and enforcement of any zoning ordinance that discriminates based on familial, non-familial, or marital status.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0876
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to zoning restrictions on dwelling units.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Zoning; Grant of Power; Dwelling Unit Occupancy. Amend RSA 674:16 by inserting after paragraph VII the following new paragraph:
VIII. In its exercise of the powers granted under this subdivision, the legislative body of a city, town, village district, or county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places shall not adopt any ordinance that restricts the number of occupants of any dwelling unit to less than 2 occupants per bedroom, and the governing body thereof shall not enforce any such ordinance. Such legislative body shall not adopt any zoning ordinance within a municipality that discriminates based on the familial or non-familial relationships or marital status among the occupants of the dwelling unit, including but not limited to college students, and the governing body thereof shall not enforce any such ordinance. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the enforcement of the state building code or state fire code.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
