Title III, Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places

Prior to adoption of bylaws by a town under RSA 31:41, 41-a or 41-d, the selectmen may regulate the operation of open-air motion picture theatres, motor vehicle race tracks or coin operated amusement devices within the limits of the town and fix reasonable fees for such operation…

Bylaws adopted by any town without limitation shall continue in force until altered or annulled by vote of the town or bylaw.

Any city by vote of its city council, and any town at any meeting, may adopt the provisions of this subdivision.

The city of Rochester may, in like manner as this subdivision was adopted, rescind such adoption, or suspend the operation of the provisions of this subdivision in said city during such period of the year as it may designate.

In all such cities and towns it shall be unlawful for any minor under the age of 16 years to be upon any public street, or in any public place, after the hour of 9 o'clock in the evening, unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other suitable person.

Whistles which can be heard in every part of the city, town, or village shall be blown, or bells shall be rung at the appointed time, and shall be called the curfew signal, after which all children under 16 years of age shall be required to be off the street, except they are in c…

Any parent, guardian, or person having the control of any minor under the age of 16 years who shall permit any such minor to be upon any public street or in any public place in any such city or town, in violation of this subdivision, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

For the first violation of this subdivision by any child it shall be taken to its home by the officers, and the parents or guardian shall be notified of the penalty for any subsequent violation.

Upon any subsequent violation by any child said parents or guardians shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

I. (a) No money shall be raised or appropriated or shall any appropriation previously made be reduced or rescinded at any special town meeting except by vote by ballot, nor unless the ballots cast at such meeting shall be equal in number to at least 1/2 of the number of legal vot…

Notwithstanding RSA 31:5, the selectmen may call a special town meeting to authorize the expenditure of federal funds allocated to the town as a result of a major disaster as declared by the governor and to appropriate the local matching share for such funds. The authorization to…

I. In the past, irregularities and procedural defects in actions of municipal legislative bodies have been cured by actions of the general court. The procedure in this section is an alternative approach which enables municipalities to effect legalization by local action. II. When…

Towns may make regulations from time to time for the planting, protection and preservation of the shade and ornamental trees situated upon any lands within the limits of the town appropriated to public uses.

Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to deprive the owner of real estate of the right to plant, rear and protect any tree between the carriage path and sidewalk in any public street or highway on which his estate is situate, if it does not interfere with the public trav…

The mayor of any city and the selectmen of any town are authorized, at the expense of the city or town, to call out sufficient military force to suppress or prevent a mob riot within its limits.

Towns may grant pensions to any fireman, police officer, or constable, who, by reason of permanent disability directly incurred in the performance of his official duty, is no longer able to perform services in such capacity, or who has served faithfully for not less than 25 years…

The provisions of the foregoing section may be adopted by any town by a major vote of the legal voters thereof at any regular election duly warned and holden therein in the warrant for which due notice is given of the intention to act upon the matter. At such election the followi…

When such provisions have been adopted the city councils of the city or the selectmen of the town shall thereafter, under such regulations and restrictions and subject to such provisions as they may by vote or ordinance prescribe, grant pensions as herein authorized.

Any town at an annual meeting, under an article in the warrant for said meeting, may vote to establish a central purchasing department for said town.

If the town shall vote to establish such a department the selectmen shall appoint a purchasing agent for said town. Said agent shall be a resident of the town at the time of his appointment. He shall purchase all supplies for any agency of said town and may establish rules and re…

As used in this subdivision the following terms shall be construed as follows: I. "Supplies" shall mean and include all materials, equipment, printing, furniture, furnishings of every name and nature. II. "Purchase" shall mean and include all contracts for the purchase of supplie…

In any town which has voted to establish a purchasing department as provided in this subdivision the authority of any official or board to make purchases shall be suspended during the time said provisions are in effect. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as affecting …

City councils may, at any legal meeting, grant and vote money, not exceeding $2,000, for providing municipal Christmas trees or for public patriotic exercises for Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day or other holidays.

Any municipality, town, village, or unincorporated place that adopts a holiday on a date indicated in RSA 288:1 shall use the appellation for such holiday designated in RSA 288:1 with respect to any official communication, publication, document, or calendars.

The treasurer of any town or city which provides a free hospital bed shall make a contract with the hospital concerning the admission of patients, and the rates, rules and regulations governing such admission shall be approved by the selectmen of towns or the city council of citi…

For the encouragement of equitable taxation and the education of public officials in tax problems and other matters pertaining to the proper and efficient discharge of the duties of their respective offices, each town and city shall pay annually to the New Hampshire Association o…

The board of selectmen may vote to pay, from amounts appropriated by the town for town officers' expenses, such amounts as shall be payable for annual membership in the New Hampshire Municipal Association and expenses incurred in attending regular meetings of the said association…

Towns may at any legal meeting authorize the employment by the selectmen of counsel in legislative matters in which the town is directly or indirectly interested, or may ratify the previous employment by the selectmen of such counsel and may grant and vote money therefor.

A town may at any legal meeting vote to sponsor a group life, accident, medical, surgical and hospitalization insurance benefit or any combination of such benefits for regular employees of the town and their dependents under which plan said employees agree to pay the premiums. In…

All elected and appointed officials of a municipal corporation shall be paid monies due them for services rendered as approved by a vote of the municipality from the time of election, or appointment, to the expiration of the term of office for which they are elected or appointed.…

The selectmen of any town, upon petition of 30 or more legal voters of the town, shall provide a suitable lockup for the temporary detention of offenders.

I. As a result of sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding from extreme precipitation events, or in anticipation of such events as projected by the Coastal Risk and Hazards Commission final report, "Preparing New Hampshire for Projected Storm Surge, Sea-Level Rise, and Extreme P…

The selectmen of any town holding stock in any railroad as trustee or otherwise are authorized to vote thereon at all meetings of such corporation, and may appoint, in writing, an agent for that purpose.

The right to grant permits for soliciting funds for charitable purposes and for the sale of tags, flowers or other objects for charitable purposes shall be vested in the mayor and aldermen of a city or the selectmen of towns.

Whenever any town cannot obtain by contract, for a reasonable price, any land required for public use, such land may be taken, the damages assessed, and the same remedies and proceedings had as in case of laying out highways by selectmen.

Any town which shall have received an order by the department of environmental services under the provisions of RSA 147, 485, or 485-A shall proceed forthwith to acquire whatever easements and lands as are necessary to comply with said order provided a majority of the voters vote…

Every town shall provide for the use of its town clerk an official seal, bearing the name of the town and the date of its incorporation, and of such general design as may be approved by the selectmen thereof. Papers issued from the office of the town clerk may be attested therewi…

The fiscal year of towns, village precincts and departments thereof excepting school districts shall end on December 31.

Cities and towns and counties, may adopt a single 18 month accounting period running from January 1 of the calendar year following adoption and ending June 30 of the next following year. Thereafter, accounting periods for such towns, cities, and counties shall run from July 1 to …

The provisions of RSA 31:94-a shall not take effect in any town, city or county unless adopted in the following manner: I. In towns operating under the municipal budget law, by unanimous vote of the selectmen together with the approval of a 2/3 majority of the members of the budg…

Any town, city or county which adopts the provisions of RSA 31:94-a may budget their receipts and expenditures, raise and appropriate revenues, and assess taxes on the basis of a single 18 month accounting period running from January 1 of the calendar year following adoption and …

Any city or town which adopts the provisions of RSA 31:94-a and assesses taxes on the basis of the 18-month accounting period as permitted under RSA 31:94-c shall prorate any exemption or tax credit available under RSA 72:28, 29-a, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36-a, 37, 37-a, 39-b, 62, 66, an…

Towns, cities, and counties which have adopted the provisions of RSA 31:94-a may incur debt under the provisions of RSA 33 in an amount not to exceed 1/3 of all taxes assessed on April 1 of the year following adoption of RSA 31:94-a, excluding payments upon outstanding debts, sai…

Where the provisions of RSA 31:94-a are adopted by a town, city or county, the selectmen, city treasurer or county treasurer, respectively, may borrow money in anticipation of taxes, for the transition period in the manner provided by RSA 33:7, I for cities and towns and RSA 29:8…

Immediately upon the close of the fiscal year the budget committee in towns where such committees exist, otherwise the selectmen, shall prepare a budget on blanks prescribed by the commissioner of revenue administration; provided, however, that any full-time employee of the town,…

I. Every city and town shall, prior to January 1, 1980, have a tax map, so-called, drawn. Each tax map shall: (a) Show the boundary lines of each parcel of land in the city or town and shall be properly indexed. (b) Accurately represent the physical location of each parcel of lan…