Over the past year, the Gove Group Land Development team has been actively engaged with the New Hampshire Home Builders Association to advocate for legislation that supports the development and building industry. Thanks to the efforts of many in our network, several key bills have been signed into law. Below, we summarize some of these laws and their benefits.
SB 153 – Expedited Driveway Permitting
Creates an optional expedited review process for state driveway permits for new subdivisions of 20 or more units.
How this helps housing: This streamlines one step in the state permitting process, helping construction start sooner and reducing carrying costs and construction delays that contribute to increased housing costs.
SB 110 – Streamlined Permitting for Smaller Developments
Raises the disturbance threshold requiring a state permit from 100,000 to 150,000 square feet.
How this helps housing: This removes the state review requirement for projects with less disturbance, speeding up approval timelines for smaller projects and increasing housing inventory.
HB 577 – Detached ADUs by Right
Allows detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right in single-family zones.
How this helps housing: This creates another avenue for increasing housing inventory that doesn’t rely on new home communities, giving existing single-family homeowners the opportunity to create housing solutions right in their backyard.
SB 188 – Third-Party Code Reviews and Inspections
Allows developers to hire licensed third-party professionals to conduct code reviews and inspections.
How this helps housing: This provides an additional option during the build process, making inspection timelines more predictable and efficient.
HB 631 – Residential Development in Commercially Zoned Areas
Allows residential development in commercially zoned areas where water, sewer, and roadway infrastructure already exist.
How this helps housing: This creates new opportunities for residential housing in areas where it may not have been previously allowed, but where the existing infrastructure can support denser, more attainable housing solutions.
We are excited about these opportunities to continue creating vibrant and diverse communities in New Hampshire.
