Bill > HB296

This bill makes two key changes to existing New Hampshire law regarding building permits and appeals. First, it provides an alternative pathway for local governing bodies to issue building permits along private roads: in addition to receiving review and comment from the planning board, municipalities can now authorize building permits if the private road complies with a policy established by the governing body. Second, the bill removes the zoning board of adjustment's discretionary authority in handling appeals and replaces it with a mandatory 30-day timeframe for filing an appeal. Specifically, any affected party (such as an applicant, abutter, or municipal officer) can now file an appeal within 30 days by submitting a notice to the original decision-making officer and the board, specifying the grounds for the appeal. These changes aim to streamline the process of obtaining building permits and standardize the appeals process for land use decisions. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Business and Industry, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0599&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB296