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RSA 270:12 · Operating Restrictions

Title: XXII: NAVIGATION; HARBORS; COAST SURVEY
Chapter: 270 · SUPERVISION OF NAVIGATION; REGISTRATION OF BOATS AND MOTORS; COMMON CARRIERS BY WATER
Status: current
Official source linked: Yes

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270:12 Operating Restrictions. –

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The commissioner of safety shall, after receiving a petition signed by 25 or more residents or property owners of each affected town or towns in which a lake, pond or river is located and after notice and hearing, at which it appears that the public interest requires, adopt rules governing the maximum horsepower of boat engines and outboard motors or prescribe maximum speed limits for the operation of such boats or outboard motors applicable to or upon all or any portion of the public waters of this state. The commissioner of safety shall, in like manner and after notice and hearing, prohibit the use of motorboats and outboard motors on bodies of public water having an area of 35 acres or less; provided, that said prohibition shall not be construed as affecting the bodies of water covered by RSA 270:75 through 270:132. Hearings under this section shall be held in the vicinity of the body of water under consideration during the months of June, July, August, and September following the date of the petition.

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II.

Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 270:12, I, any hearings regarding the closing or restricting of any body of water to seaplanes shall be addressed to and heard by the commissioner of safety or his designee. Prior to issuing a decision, the commissioner shall consult with the director of aeronautics, rail, and transit, department of transportation.

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III.

Persons petitioning the commissioner requesting a change of use or restriction of the use of any public waters shall notify, by certified mail, all abutters with deeded waterfront property or deeded water access rights of the proposed change or restriction and the department shall post the petition on its official website at least 2 weeks prior to a public hearing scheduled by the department.

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IV.

In this section, "abutter" means any person who owns property immediately adjacent and contiguous to the area on which the change of use or restriction of use will take place. If the change of use or restriction of use is located in an area which by its configuration would cause the change or restriction to affect noncontiguous properties, owners of those properties are considered as abutters. The term does not include the owner of a parcel of land located more than 1/4 mile from the limits of the proposed change or restriction. Source. 1947, 78:1. RSA 270:12. 1963, 119:1. 1987, 124:6, I(c), (f)(2). 1989, 339:23. 1992, 7:1; 187:2. 2004, 257:31, eff. July 1, 2004. 2011, 8:1, eff. June 24, 2011. 2012, 67:1, eff. July 14, 2012.

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Source note

Source. 1947, 78:1. RSA 270:12. 1963, 119:1. 1987, 124:6, I(c), (f)(2). 1989, 339:23. 1992, 7:1; 187:2. 2004, 257:31, eff. July 1, 2004. 2011, 8:1, eff. June 24, 2011. 2012, 67:1, eff. July 14, 2012.

Source history

1947, 78:1. RSA 270:12
1963, 119:1
1987, 124:6, I(c), (f)(2)
1989, 339:23
1992, 7:1; 187:2
2004, 257:31, eff. July 1, 2004
2011, 8:1, eff. June 24, 2011
2012, 67:1, eff. July 14, 2012

Related materials

Bill relationships

2026 HB1141 reference
ot required, a copy of the application for issuance of a permit, certificate, or license within the designated river or corridor under RSA 485-C, RSA 485-A, RSA 483-B, [RSA 12-E,] RSA 270:12, RSA 482, RSA 482-A, except notifications for minimum impact activities under RSA 482-A:3, V and XII and for routine roadway maintenance under RSA 482-A:3, XVI on land used for agricultural purposes, RSA 149-M, RSA 430,
2026 HB1141-FN reference
ot required, a copy of the application for issuance of a permit, certificate, or license within the designated river or corridor under RSA 485-C, RSA 485-A, RSA 483-B, [RSA 12-E,] RSA 270:12, RSA 482, RSA 482-A, except notifications for minimum impact activities under RSA 482-A:3, V and XII and for routine roadway maintenance under RSA 482-A:3, XVI on land used for agricultural purposes, RSA 149-M, RSA 430,
2026 HB1837 reference
d RSA 270:18 to read as follows: 270:18 Penalty. I. If any person operates any boat required to be registered under RSA 270-E without registration, or violates any provision of RSA 270, or RSA 270-E, or any rule adopted by the department of safety relating to the equipment or operation of such boats, or does not exhibit, upon request, the certificate of registration of such boat to any duly authorized
2026 HB1837-FN reference · effective 2026-05-28
d RSA 270:18 to read as follows: 270:18 Penalty. I. If any person operates any boat required to be registered under RSA 270-E without registration, or violates any provision of RSA 270, or RSA 270-E, or any rule adopted by the department of safety relating to the equipment or operation of such boats, or does not exhibit, upon request, the certificate of registration of such boat to any duly authorized
2026 SB527 reference
ll ensure that a copy of the application for issuance of a permit, certificate, or license within the designated river or corridor under RSA 485-C, RSA 485-A, RSA 483-B, RSA 12-E, RSA 270:12, RSA 482, RSA 482-A is provided, except notifications for minimum impact activities under RSA 482-A:3, V and XII and for routine roadway maintenance under RSA 482-A:3, XVI on land used for agricultural purposes, RSA 149