Bill > SB153

This bill establishes an expedited permitting process for major residential entrances involving 20 or more housing units. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) is required to revise its driveway permitting policy to create an optional fast-track process that must complete reviews within 60 business days after receiving an approved traffic impact study. Applicants must pay a non-refundable permit fee of $120 per housing unit, and the DOT commissioner can adjust this fee with governor and council approval. Additionally, applicants must pay a retainer to cover third-party professional engineering review expenses, with any unused funds refunded within 120 days of permit issuance. To support this new process, the bill creates a classified position of business operations specialist within the DOT to administer the expedited permitting program. The fiscal note indicates that implementing this bill will require hiring four additional engineering staff members and potentially using on-call consultant engineers, with estimated costs ranging from $629,000 to $669,000 annually. The bill will take effect 90 days after its passage.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=1051&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=SB153