relative to subdivision regulations on the completion of improvements and the regulation of building permits.
Sponsored By: Diane Pauer (Republican)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Owners get longer protection for approved development
Beginning July 1, 2025, approved and recorded subdivision and site plans get 7 years of protection, up from 5. This covers later changes to subdivision, site-plan, zoning, and impact-fee rules, for approvals granted on or after July 1, 2023. Active and substantial development must generally begin within 3 years of approval, up from 24 months. Planning boards can extend that deadline for good cause. Plans must meet rules in effect at approval and recording, and development must follow public-health rules. Owners must post required security for roads, drains, or sewers when development begins. Planning boards can define substantial completion and active and substantial development; without those definitions, the seven-year protection applies. Once improvements are substantially complete as approved or stipulated by the board, later land-use changes cannot affect them, except authorized impact fees. Registers of deeds also cannot refuse to record a plat solely because it conflicts with a rule adopted after planning-board approval.
New routes and limits for building appeals
Beginning July 1, 2025, zoning boards or selectmen acting as building-code appeal boards hear only appeals about local code amendments. Other appeals about state building and fire codes go to the New Hampshire Building Code Review Board. That state board also reviews local officials’ code decisions and final decisions from local building-code appeal boards. Appeals must concern code interpretation, failure to apply code provisions, or an equally good or better construction method. Local boards cannot waive state building or fire code requirements. Specified fire marshal decisions and final local building-code appeal decisions must go through the state review board first. Its decisions can then go to superior court or, where allowed, the Housing Appeals Board. Housing Appeals Board cases require exhausting local remedies and legal standing; the municipality must participate, and qualifying parties can join. Local building-code appeal boards have three or five members, all municipal residents. Zoning boards can serve in that role without being elected.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Diane Pauer
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Brian D Cole
Republican • House
Hope E Damon
Democratic • House
Joe H. Alexander
Republican • House
Judy F. Aron
Republican • House
Keith R. Murphy
Republican • Senate
Merryl Gibbs
Democratic • House
Michael Aron
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 186; eff.07/01/2025 HJ 18
7/22/2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 58
6/30/2025HouseEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
6/30/2025SenateOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
5/15/2025SenateCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/15/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 21
5/7/2025SenateHearing: 04/15/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:35 am; SC 17
4/8/2025SenateIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 10
3/28/2025SenateOught to Pass: MA DV 185-167 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 90
3/27/2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
3/19/2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/10/2025 (Vote 11-7; RC) HC 17 P. 64
3/19/2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
3/5/2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/03/2025 09:40 am LOB 301-303
2/27/2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 3 P. 8
1/10/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
6/30/2025
Introduced
1/10/2025
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION
Version adopted by both bodies
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