New Hampshire HB 1681: relative to the definition, inspection, and local approval of tiny houses and yurts as innovative housing structures.

Bill Text

HB 1681 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

11Mar2026... 0998h

05/07/2026 1709s

2026 SESSION

 26-3110

 06/08

HOUSE BILL 1681

AN ACT relative to the definition, inspection, and local approval of tiny houses and yurts as innovative housing structures.

SPONSORS: Rep. Grant, Sull. 5; Rep. M. Aron, Sull. 8; Rep. Rollins, Sull. 3; Rep. Cole, Hills. 26; Rep. Reinfurt, Hills. 29; Rep. Post, Hills. 42

COMMITTEE: Housing

-----------------------------------------------------------------

AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes standards for innovative housing structures, including tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels, and yurts, authorizes their use as single‑family or accessory dwellings, sets construction, inspection, and off‑site manufacturing requirements, regulates transportation, and directs related rulemaking under the state building code and wastewater and modular building statutes.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11Mar2026... 0998h

05/07/2026 1709s 26-3110

 06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the definition, inspection, and local approval of tiny houses and yurts as innovative housing structures.

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

 1 New Subdivision; Innovative Housing Structures. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 80 the following new subdivision: 

Innovative Housing Structures

 674:81 Definitions. As used in this subdivision: 

 I. “Dwelling site” means the property where the innovative housing structure is or will be located when used as a dwelling unit.

 II. “Innovative housing structure” or “IHS” means a unique single residential unit such as a tiny house, tiny house on wheels, or a yurt.

 III. “Off-site construction” means, for the purposes of this subdivision, any tiny house of closed construction, which is made or assembled in manufacturing facilities off the building site, for installation, or assembly and installation, on the building site. This definition shall not be construed to include any structure labeled in accordance with the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, nor shall it include any recreational vehicle or park trailer as defined in American National Standards Institute A119.2, Standard for Recreational Vehicles, or American National Standards Institute A119.5, Standard for Park Trailers, or any building type not subject to the requirements of nationally recognized model building codes.

 IV. “Tiny house” means a detached building used or intended to be used for human habitation, providing permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation that: 

 (a) Is 600 square feet or less in floor area, excluding lofts;

 (b) Complies with the tiny home provisions of the state building code; and

 (c) Is constructed on a stable ground surface or foundation.

 V. “Tiny house on wheels” or “THOW” means a tiny house built on a trailer chassis without motive power. A THOW shall not be considered a camp trailer or recreational vehicle when constructed for human habitation. 

 VI. “Yurt” means, for the purposes of this subdivision, a style of tiny house that is a round or similar shape and is a freestanding structure modeled after traditional nomadic dwellings, constructed with contemporary materials and engineering for use as a permanent or long-term residence. 

 674:82 Location and Use. 

 I. A municipality may permit an innovative housing structure to be placed or erected on an individual house lot where single-family dwellings are allowed, or to be used as an accessory dwelling unit pursuant to RSA 674:72, subject to all applicable land use requirements. ? 

 II. Innovative housing structures shall be treated as single-family dwellings or accessory dwelling units for zoning purposes and shall meet all applicable state laws and regulations regarding drinking water supply and wastewater treatment and disposal. ? 

 674:84 Transportation of Mobile Structures.

 I. If an innovative housing structure is permanently built on a flatbed trailer chassis for transportation to the dwelling site, and the trailer conforms to all vehicle trailer requirements for roadworthiness, the builder may use: 

 (a) A dealer plate; or

 (b) A temporary trailer plate issued by the department of motor vehicles.

 II. Such plates may be used to move the structure from the building site to the dwelling site or, if sold, from one dwelling site to another. 

 2 New Section; New Hampshire Building Code;