KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to New Hampshire

HB1251 • 2026

relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.

relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Patrick Long (D), Heath Howard (D), Joe Alexander (R)
Last action
2026-03-11
Official status
HOUSE
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.

relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.

What This Bill Does

  • relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-11 H

    Refer for Interim Study: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 49

  2. 2026-03-04 H

    Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study 03/03/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 10 P. 23

  3. 2026-02-17 H

    Executive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231

  4. 2026-02-04 H

    ==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 02/10/2026 11:30 am GP 231

  5. 2026-01-28 H

    ==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 02/03/2026 02:00 pm GP 231

  6. 2025-12-01 H

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Housing HJ 1 P. 12

Official Summary Text

relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 1251 - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION
26-2759
06/08

HOUSE BILL
1251

AN ACT
relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.

SPONSORS: Rep. Long, Hills. 26; 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.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Downzoning. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 21-a the following new section:
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 the number of dwelling units, decrease building size, or limit the types or intensity of uses that are allowed on land compared to what was previously permitted.
II. The purpose of this section is to ensure that property owners may construct residential buildings on residential property in a manner consistent with the existing density of the surrounding neighborhood, and to prevent municipalities from adopting or enforcing zoning ordinances that arbitrarily downzone areas in a way that is inconsistent with current land use patterns.
III. A municipality shall not deny a permit for residential construction on a lot if the proposed construction is consistent with the density of existing residential development in the surrounding neighborhood, as certified under this section.
IV. The property owner shall be responsible for conducting an analysis of existing residential density in the surrounding neighborhood. This analysis shall be prepared and signed by a licensed architect, who shall certify that the proposed residential construction is consistent with the prevailing density of residential structures in the area. The analysis shall be submitted to the municipal official or body responsible for issuing permits for residential construction.
V. The issuance of a permit under this section shall be ministerial and non-discretionary, provided that the architect has certified compliance with this section. The municipality shall not be required to conduct any analysis or mapping, nor shall it exercise discretion in evaluating the certification.
VI. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of a municipality to enforce applicable building codes, life safety codes, or other non-zoning regulations that apply uniformly to all residential construction.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.