Key Housing Reform Advances, Zoning Study Bill Sent to Governor
CONCORD – Today, the New Hampshire House passed HB 577, the first step to increasing property rights and meeting housing needs across our state. HB 577, which would allow accessory dwelling units statewide without burdensome regulations or hurdles, has a bipartisan group of sponsors and supporters, and passed the Committee on Housing unanimously on February 18. This morning, the bill moved through the House on consent.
Additionally, the House agreed to Senate changes to HB399, sending the bill to the Governor to establish a study workgroup into the state’s 100-year-old Zoning Enabling Act, potentially laying the groundwork for significant reforms to allow more homes in New Hampshire.
In response, 603 Forward Advocacy and Engagement Director, Matt Mooshian, released the following statement:
"New Hampshire needs more homes, period. We are grateful for the bipartisan group of legislators that came together to prioritize this important legislation.
New Hampshire needs more than 60,000 new homes by 2030 to meet the needs of our neighbors and families. Allowing accessory dwelling units will help us meet this demand. And with today’s passage of HB 399, we’re also recognizing that modernizing our land use codes is key to restoring property rights and giving homeowners more freedom. Together, these bills show that we can tackle the housing shortage by cutting unnecessary red tape and ensuring our zoning laws work for the people of New Hampshire, not against them. We urge the Senate to take up HB 577 quickly and pass it without delay so that New Hampshire residents can build a backyard cottage or in-law suite if they so choose."
BACKGROUND
While accessory dwelling units have technically been allowed in New Hampshire since 2016, local governments have added significant hurdles, such as: requiring the unit to be attached to the main house, requiring special hearings or permits, and requiring as many as four parking spaces for a single bedroom backyard cottage. Today’s actions by the New Hampshire House of Representatives set us on a path to remove many of these hurdles for homeowners.
Research from other states shows that accessory dwelling units or backyard cottages often provide a full time rental for their occupants at a cheaper price than a regular rental home.
603 Forward envisions a thriving New Hampshire where people are free to live, work and raise a family. In our New Hampshire: democracy is protected above all else; young people have a voice in government at all levels; and policy changes to help build an inclusive, affordable and resilient state.
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