House Housing Committee: Tuesday, April 15th, LOB Room 305 10:00 am — Senate Bill 84, relative to zoning procedures concerning residential housing. - What The Bill Does: This proposal sets basic lot size standards for single-family-zoned residential land. The square footage standards vary depending on whether the land is served by public water and sewer infrastructure. In areas without water and sewer infrastructure, the basic standards only apply to a majority of land rather than all single-family-zoned land. Nothing in this bill overrides applicable Department of Environmental Services regulations for septic/well or municipal limits on infrastructure capacity.
- Why It Matters: New Hampshire—and the United States as a whole—has made it increasingly difficult to build starter single-family homes by requiring large lots. An analysis of the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas found that only 15% of buildable land allowed for smaller single-family homes, which are well-suited for downsizing and starter homes. You can learn more about Senate Bill 84 by reading this blog post on our website.
1:30 pm — Senate Bill 282, relative to stairway requirements in certain residential buildings. - What The Bill Does: This bill would modify the state building code to allow for additional multi-family designs with one staircase.
- Why It Matters: Building code requirements along with local zoning requirements are the key drivers in what type of housing is allowed to be built and what it looks like. One requirement is that buildings have two exit stairways that are accessible from all points on each floor. This limits the range of sizes and floor plans available to architects and developers – and the data shows that is doesn’t have an impact on safety. Read more about single-stair reform here.
2:00 pm — Senate Bill 170, relative to development and related requirements in cities, towns, and municipalities. - What The Bill Does: This bill aligns local regulations with the Department of Environmental Services standards, limits excessive frontage, and includes other regulatory reforms.
- Why It Matters: Standardized, streamlined regulatory processes allow more housing to be built quickly, while maintaining all necessary safety and health standards outlined by state regulators.
2:30 pm — Senate Bill 165, relative to the audit requirements for consumer cooperative associations. - What The Bill Does: This bill raises the annual audit threshold for resident-owned cooperative associations from $250,000 to $2,000,000 for a full audit.
- Why It Matters: Resident-owned manufactured housing cooperatives are an excellent form of naturally occurring affordable housing. The $250,000 audit threshold was instituted decades ago and has not been adjusted to keep up with inflation. Audits can cost $10,000+, which is passed on to residents. Raising the threshold will save residents money and return the law to its original purpose of applying to large cooperatives.
Senate Commerce Committee: Tuesday, April 15th, State House Room 100
9:45 am — House Bill 685, permitting in all residentially zoned areas by right the construction of manufactured housing.
- What The Bill Does: This bill permits manufactured housing in all residentially zoned areas.
- Why It Matters: Manufactured housing is an attainable, lower-cost option for home ownership, but it’s often regulated out of communities due to stigmas associated with the design and perceptions of those who live in manufactured housing. This bill treats manufactured housing just like any other type of construction.
10:00 am — House Bill 382, relative to authority for municipalities to regulate mandatory on-site parking requirements. (NOTE: There is a “replace-all” amendment scheduled to be heard at 10:05 am that would change the purpose of HB 382. The House is considering another parking reform proposal, SB 284.) - What The Bill Does: This bill would limit municipal parking requirements to no more than one spot per unit. Nothing in the legislation prevents a developer or property owner from including more than one parking space per home.
- Why It Matters: Off-street parking requirements can hinder development by limiting the number of possible housing units and creating large seas of asphalt parking lots. The argument in favor of parking reform is that it’s not the government’s role to regulate off-street parking and that developers will still build parking—just right-size it based on their needs and market research.
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