Bill > HB1057

This bill establishes comprehensive guidelines for maintaining private roads that are jointly owned by multiple landowners, creating a default legal framework when no existing agreement is in place. The bill defines a "private road" as a roadway on private property not maintained by a municipality, and provides clear definitions for terms like "maintenance" (keeping the road in a state of repair for passable travel) and "equitable" (proportional contribution based on ownership and use). Under the bill, road owners must contribute equally or proportionally to maintenance costs, with requirements for providing 30 days' written notice before undertaking shared repair work. In emergency situations where road access is completely blocked, owners can take immediate temporary repairs and allocate costs afterward. The legislation also addresses potential conflicts by allowing mediation and court petitions for dispute resolution, and enables owners to recover costs and attorney's fees in enforcement actions. Notably, the bill prevents new claims of road rights through adverse use and preserves existing common law principles regarding access rights. The provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027, and are designed to provide clear, fair guidelines for shared road maintenance among property owners.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1509&inflect=2