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RSA 674:59 · Workforce Housing Opportunities

Title
LXIV: PLANNING AND ZONING
Chapter
674 · LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING AND REGULATORY POWERS
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
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674:59 Workforce Housing Opportunities. –

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I.

In every municipality that exercises the power to adopt land use ordinances and regulations, such ordinances and regulations shall provide reasonable and realistic opportunities for the development of workforce housing, including rental multi-family housing. In order to provide such opportunities, lot size and overall density requirements for workforce housing shall be reasonable. A municipality that adopts land use ordinances and regulations shall allow workforce housing to be located in a majority, but not necessarily all, of the land area that is zoned to permit residential uses within the municipality. Such a municipality shall have the discretion to determine what land areas are appropriate to meet this obligation. This obligation may be satisfied by the adoption of inclusionary zoning as defined in RSA 674:21, IV(a). This paragraph shall not be construed to require a municipality to allow for the development of multifamily housing in a majority of its land zoned to permit residential uses.

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II.

A municipality shall not fulfill the requirements of this section by adopting voluntary inclusionary zoning provisions that rely on inducements that render workforce housing developments economically unviable.

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III.

A municipality's existing housing stock shall be taken into consideration in determining its compliance with this section. If a municipality's existing housing stock is sufficient to accommodate its fair share of the current and reasonably foreseeable regional need for such housing, the municipality shall be deemed to be in compliance with this subdivision and RSA 672:1, III-e.

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IV.

Paragraph I shall not be construed to require municipalities to allow workforce housing that does not meet reasonable standards or conditions of approval related to environmental protection, water supply, sanitary disposal, traffic safety, and fire and life safety protection. Source. 2008, 299:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.

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Source note

Source. 2008, 299:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.

Source history

  • 2008, 299:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1007 reference

    aled and reenacted to read as follows: 674:32 Manufactured Housing. I. Municipalities shall afford reasonable opportunities for the siting of manufactured housing, as defined in RSA 674: 31, and shall not exclude manufactured housing completely from the municipality by regulation or zoning ordinance. A municipality that adopts land use control measures shall make reasonable efforts to allow manufacture

  • 2026 HB1008 amend

    tent with RSA 674:60, IV to be recorded in the registry of deeds to enforce compliance with these definitions. 2 New Section; Inclusionary Zoning Requirements and Appeal. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 80 the following new section: 674:80-a Inclusionary Zoning Requirements and Appeal. I. If a municipality requires inclusionary zoning, as defined in RSA 674:21, the applicant may demonstra

  • 2026 HB1017 reference

    o read as follows: X. An accessory dwelling unit may be deemed a unit of workforce housing for the purposes of satisfying the municipality's regional fair share obligation under RSA 674:59, III if the unit meets the criteria in RSA 674:58, IV for rental units. The municipality may require that if a property has any accessory dwelling units, the accessory dwelling units, or a portion thereof, shall meet t

  • 2026 HB1023 amend

    rcial units by right. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Accessory Commercial Units Allowed by Right. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 72 the following new section: 674:72-a Accessory Commercial Units. I. In this section, "accessory commercial unit" means a subordinate commercial space that: (a) Is located on the same lot

  • 2026 HB1050 amend

    icipally zoned and non-zoned areas. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Subdivision; Learning Pod Protection. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 76 the following new subdivision: Learning Pod Protection 674:77 Definitions. In this subdivision: I. "Learning pod" means providing educational instruction to voluntarily associated chi

  • 2026 HB1136 reference · effective 2026-07-01

    h these definitions. X. An accessory dwelling unit may be deemed a unit of workforce housing for the purpose of satisfying the municipality's regional fair share obligation under RSA 674:59, III if the unit meets the criteria in RSA 674:58, IV for rental units. XI. A municipality shall allow accessory dwelling units to be converted from existing structures, including but not limited to detached garages[,

  • 2026 HB1195 amend · effective 2026-07-01

    e-based child care facility is located, an applicant may begin operation during such time until the permit is granted or denied.] 2 New Subdivision; Child Care Centers. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 80 the following new subdivision: Child Care Centers 674:81 Child Care Centers. I. In this section: (a) ?“Child care center” means any of the following types of child day care agenc

  • 2026 HB1251 amend

    ing 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 ord

  • 2026 HB1303 amend

    ar authority to include canopy preservation provisions in zoning and master planning. 2 New Section; Local Land Use Planning; Zoning; Tree Canopy Preservation Authorized. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 16-a the following new section: 674:16-b Tree Canopy Preservation Authorized. I. A municipality may, at its discretion, adopt zoning ordinances or master plan provisions providing for th

  • 2026 HB1351 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    pact home enterprises while preserving neutral nuisance, noise, traffic, and safety standards. 2 New Subdivision; Home-Based Businesses, Uniform Standard, and Preemption. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 80 the following new subdivision: Home-Based Businesses, Uniform Standard, and Preemption 674:81 Definitions. In this subdivision: I. “Home-based business” means any lawful business,

  • 2026 HB1357 amend

    IV. “Retailer” means a person or entity engaged in the distribution or sale of manufactured homes. 3 New Section; Allowing New Manufactured Housing in Residential Zones. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 31-a the following new section: 674:31-b Permitting New Manufactured Housing on Individual Lots in Residential Zones. I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, newly b

  • 2026 HB1660 amend · effective 2037-04-01

    nicipalities in completing annual reports under this section. 10 New Section; Planning and Zoning; Local Land Use Planning and Regulatory Powers; Senior Housing Access. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 59 the following new section: 674:59-a Senior Housing Access. I. Municipalities shall provide reasonable and realistic opportunities to senior housing access. Such opportunities shall b