New Hampshire legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Hampshire HB1251: relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.
Status: In committee, October 5, 2026
What the bill says
An act relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density. Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29 COMMITTEE: Housing ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill requires municipalities to approve residential construction permits when a licensed architect certifies that the proposed density matches surrounding development, and prohibits discretionary zoning denials inconsistent with existing neighborhood patterns. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.
From the introduced text, January 7, 2026:
AN ACT relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density. Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29 COMMITTEE: Housing ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill requires municipalities to approve residential construction permits when a licensed architect certifies that the proposed density matches surrounding development, and prohibits discretionary zoning denials inconsistent with existing neighborhood patterns. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics. Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.] Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type. 26-2759 06/08 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density. 674:21-b Residential Construction Consistent with Existing Neighborhood Density. In this section: I. "Downzone" or "downzoning" means changing a zoning ordinance or zoning map to reduce …
Sponsors
- Patrick Long (D, 26) · primary sponsor