New Hampshire Tiny House Builders

Are Tiny Houses On A Foundation Legal In New Hampshire?

Laws for individual tiny houses on foundation are outlined in House Bill 588 which states the following:

Tiny House Laws In New Hampshire

• A municipality that adopts a zoning ordinance pursuant to the authority granted in this chapter shall allow tiny houses as a matter of right in all zoning districts that permit single family dwellings, and may allow in its discretion tiny houses in all other districts.
• If a municipality permits detached accessory dwelling units pursuant to RSA 674:73, it shall permit a single tiny house as a detached accessory dwelling unit. Municipalities allowing tiny houses pursuant to this paragraph may require additional lot area if it has such a requirement for detached accessory dwelling units, and may require the tiny house meet the municipality’s zoning dimensional standards for detached accessory dwelling units if such standards exist. A property may include either an accessory dwelling unit or a tiny house, but not both.
• A tiny house used for habitation shall be connected to both a public water system or a private well and to a public sewer system or a subsurface wastewater disposal system that has been approved by the department of environmental services. Alternatively, a tiny house used for habitation may include self-contained drinking water and sanitary systems. A self-contained waste water system may not discharge any waste or liquid.
  If built on a chassis, a tiny house used for habitation shall be taxable as real estate, but shall not otherwise be regarded as real property.
• If a tiny house is located on the land of another, the owner of the tiny house shall be liable for property taxes on the tiny house according to RSA 72:7-a unless exempted under RSA 72:7-d.
• A tiny house may be deemed a unit of workforce housing for purposes of satisfying the municipality’s obligation under RSA 674:59 if the unit meets the criteria in RSA 674:58, IV for rental units.
• When a tiny house on wheels is removed from a property, the owner of such tiny house shall notify the municipality in order to remove the property tax liability.

Are Tiny Houses On Wheels Legal In New Hampshire?

Tiny houses one wheels are also legal in New Hampshire. Clause 674:76 of House Bill 588 outlines what’s allowed for mobile tiny houses or tiny houses on wheels in New Hampshire.

Tiny House On Wheels Laws In New Hampshire

• Any tiny house on wheels shall be mounted on a chassis that is licensed, registered with state and local governmental agencies, and inspected.
• A tiny house on wheels shall also have a seal from a third-party inspection company authorized to provide such certification for tiny homes or recreational vehicles, which indicates that the structure has successfully passed inspection at specific stages of construction for compliance with safety, structure, and energy efficiency standards.
• Such seal shall be permanently affixed to the tiny house. A local engineer shall certify the connection of the tiny house to the chassis.

Tiny House Building Codes In Key Counties Of New Hampshire

Some counties are more friendly to tiny homeowners while others prohibit the lifestyle. County building laws have a lot of power in the state of New Hampshire when it comes to what is and is not allowed.

Grafton County, New Hampshire

Due to the fact that Grafton County does not have its own zoning ordinance, it makes it easier to live in a tiny house in the county.

Carroll County, New Hampshire

Due to the fact that Carroll County does not have its own zoning ordinance, it makes it easier to live in a tiny house in the county.

Sullivan County, New Hampshire

Due to the fact that Sullivan County does not have its own zoning ordinance, it makes it easier to live in a tiny house in the county.

Tiny House Building Codes In Key Cities Of New Hampshire

Some cities are especially accommodating the tiny house lifestyle. Other cities, particularly the more urban ones, tend to make it harder to live tiny.

Concord, New Hampshire

Concord, New Hampshire, is especially accommodating of tiny houses as accessory dwelling units. The city has many residents with a tiny house in their yard.

Manchester, New Hampshire

Manchester has added a zoning ordinance that makes it easier for residents to create small, rentable apartments as part of a detached garage or carriage house.

Formally known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), the zoning change requested by Ward 2 Alderman Will Stewart would allow residents to create an apartment inside a detached garage. Currently, ADUs are only permitted inside a residence or built on to an existing primary residence.

In a letter provided by Stewart to the Committee on Administration/Information Systems to amend Chapter 155 of the city’s zoning code (Read the PDF Here). Stewart said the change would address “in a small way” the city’s housing shortage, evidenced by a rental vacancy rate of just 1.1 percent.