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Housing Resources

This page provides information about housing-related technical assistance programs, grants, and data as well as a list of tools to incentivize the development of additional housing.
 

Accessory Dwelling Unit Law / Workforce Housing Law / Workforce Housing Case Law / What Does Workforce Housing Look Like in New Hampshire? / Housing/Land Use Regulation Reports & Studies / Organizations Providing Housing Resources, Grants, and Technical Assistance / NH Communities Utilizing Zoning Tools to Incentivize Housing Development / Grant Opportunities to Develop & Implement Housed-Related Zoning Changes / Housing Types / Housing-Related Presentations / Housing Commissions| Manufactured Housing / Multi-Family /

Resources For Increasing Housing Opportunities in New Hampshire

Accessory Dwelling Unit Law
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Workforce Housing Law
Resources about the state’s Workforce Housing statute, RSA 674:58-61, which has been in effect since July 1, 2009
 
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What does Workforce Housing Look Like in New Hampshire?
  • Gile Hill Condominiums, developed by the Twin Pines Housing Trust in Hanover
  • Building Great Neighborhoods are a portfolio of affordable housing properties developed by NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire in Southern New Hampshire
  • CATCH Neighborhood Housing has developed affordable and workforce housing throughout the Concord area
  • Great Bridge Properties has developed "high quality housing for low and moderate income families and seniors in housing markets with critical shortages…" in the Mount Washington Valley and Southern New Hampshire.
  • Pepperidge Woods, developed by the NH Community Loan Fund, provides affordable energy star manufactured homes in Barrington, NH
  • The Housing Partnership has built numerous housing developments which provide "housing for everyone" in New Hampshire’s Seacoast Region.
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Housing/Land Use Regulation Reports & Studies
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Organizations in New Hampshire Providing Housing Resources, Grants, and Technical Assistance
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NH Communities Utilizing Zoning Tools to Incentivize Housing Development
  • The Municipal Land Use Regulation Annual Survey provides data on municipalities who employ different zoning tools to incentivize housing. To see a complete list of communities that have adopted each tool as of August 2020 click on the links below:
    • Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance: a zoning regulation which allows the construction of attached accessory dwelling units in accordance with RSA 674:71-73 as well as detached, standalone accessory dwelling units, optionally
    • Cluster Development: a land use control regulation where homes are usually spaced closer together than allowed through a traditional subdivision, in exchange for permanently protecting a percentage of open space
    • Density Bonus: a land use control regulation which provides a voluntary incentive or benefit to a property owner in exchange for providing a public benefit such as protecting a tract of open space or dedicating a percentage of housing units as workforce housing
    • Form-Based Code: a zoning code that which regulates the character and physical form of an area rather than specific uses
    • Inclusionary Zoning: a land use control regulation which provides a voluntary incentive or benefit to a property owner in order to induce the property owner to produce housing units which are affordable to persons or families of low and moderate income
      • Conway, NH Affordable Housing Ordinance - Conway passed an Affordable Housing Ordinance in May 2020 which provides density bonuses for developments which include at least 25% affordable housing on lots served by municipal water and sewer along with long-term affordability convent, and a prohibition against the use of affordable or market rate units in affordable housing developments as short-term rentals for 20 years.
    • Mixed-Use Zoning: zoning which allows for residential, commercial, and retail uses to be located either in close proximity to each other or within the same structure.
    • Planned Unit Development: a land use regulation in which there is a division of separate lots for each structure. The developments are designed so that the developer has flexibility in placing units and accessory buildings, roadways and other utilities while allowing the site to have a mix of uses, useable open space and preserve important natural features.
    • Transfer of Development Rights: a zoning tool enabling the transfer of development potential from areas the community seeks to conserve to areas it seeks to be developed.
    • Village Plan Alternative Subdivision: a land use control and subdivision regulation that that promotes compact development and allows for mixed use development in smaller communities with lower densities or for creating a new village center.
    • Workforce Housing Ordinance: a zoning regulation which explicitly allows income-targeted workforce housing in compliance with RSA 674:58 – 61 usually at densities greater than would otherwise be allowed.
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Grant Opportunities to Develop & Implement Housed-Related Zoning Changes
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Housing Types
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Housing-Related Presentations
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Housing Commissions
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Manufactured Housing
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Multi-Family
  • There are multiple definitions of "multi-family" in state statute ranging from a minimum of 2 to 5 units, which are specific to different programs/regulations:
    • RSA 674:43, I - a municipality, having adopted a zoning ordinance as provided in RSA 674:16, and where the planning board has adopted subdivision regulations as provided in RSA 674:36, may by ordinance or resolution further authorize the planning board to require preliminary review of site plans and to review and approve or disapprove site plans for the development or change or expansion of use of tracts for nonresidential uses or for multi-family dwelling units, which are defined as any structures containing more than 2 dwelling units, whether or not such development includes a subdivision or resubdivision of the site.
    • RSA 674:58, II - "Multi-family housing" for the purpose of workforce housing developments, means a building or structure containing 5 or more dwelling units, each designed for occupancy by an individual household.
    • RSA 204-C:1, XXII - "Multi-family housing" shall mean housing consisting of 5 or more units for NHHFA related programs.
    • RSA 354-A:2, III - The NH State Commission for Human Rights defines "Covered multifamily dwellings" as:
    • (a) Buildings consisting of 4 or more units if such buildings have one or more elevators; and
    • (b) Ground floor units in other buildings consisting of 4 or more units.
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