New Hampshire HB 1652: relative to expedited permitting and third-party inspections for residential and minor home improvements.

Bill Text

HB 1652-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-3100

 06/07

HOUSE BILL 1652-FN

AN ACT relative to expedited permitting and third-party inspections for residential and minor home improvements.

SPONSORS: Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25

COMMITTEE: Housing

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

ANALYSIS

 This bill:

 I. Clarifies procedures and requirements for third-party building inspections and approvals.

 II. Defines "minor home improvement."

 III. Sets new insurance limits for approved agencies.

 IV. Allows expedited review using software for minor projects.

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

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-3100

 06/07

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to expedited permitting and third-party inspections for residential and minor home improvements.

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

 1 New Subparagraph; Definitions. Amend 2025, 246:3, I by inserting after subparagraph (i) the following new subparagraph: 

 (j) “Minor home improvement” means the construction, reconstruction, alteration, renovation, repair, modernization, conversion, improvement, removal, or demolition of any residential structure or accessory building of a residential structure where the total value of the home improvement construction is equal to or less than $100,000. 

 2 Approved Agencies. Amend 2025, 246:4, V to read as follows: 

 V. An approved agency may review construction documents or provide inspections only if the approved agency maintains insurance for professional liability covering all services performed as an independent provider, unless such regulatory authority waives such requirement. Such insurance shall have minimum policy limits of $500,000 per occurrence and $1 million in the aggregate for any minor home improvement, $2 million per occurrence and $4 million in the aggregate for any project other than a minor home improvement with a construction cost of $5 million or less, and $4 million per occurrence and $8 million in the aggregate for any project with a construction cost of over $5 million. A certificate of insurance indicating the above shall be provided to the building official before services under this section are started, and such certificate shall require notification to the building official 14 days prior to any cancellation or changes to the policy.

 3 Scope of Approved Agency Services. Amend 2025, 246:6, I to read as follows: 

 I. The approved agency shall examine the construction documents, including deferred or amended documents described in this act. For minor home improvements, the approved agency may use automated software to review construction documents. Upon determining compliance, the approved agency shall prepare an affidavit or affidavits certifying that the documents were reviewed pursuant to this section and that to the best of the knowledge, information, and belief of the reviewer, the documents comply with the New Hampshire state building code and any applicable municipal amendments. 

 4 Municipal Responsibilities. Amend 2025, 246:9, III and IV to read as follows: 

 III.(a) No more than 14 calendar days after receipt of a construction document affidavit, an application for a building permit, and the payment of applicable fees, the building official shall issue the building permit or shall provide a written notice to the applicant identifying the specific features that do not comply with the applicable codes and regulations or the lack of sign-offs from other federal, state, or municipal agencies, as well as the specific code or regulation reference. If no written notice of deficiencies is provided within the prescribed period, the document or permit shall be deemed approved as a matter of law, and any necessary permit or permits shall be issued by the building official on the next business day. If the permit applicant submits revisions, the building official has the remainder of the tolled business days plus one business day from the date of resubmittal to issue the building permit or provide a second written notice to the permit applicant stating which of the previously identified documents or permit features remain in noncompliance with the applicable codes, with specific reference to the relevant code or regulation reference. If the building official does not provide the second written notice within the prescribed period, the construction document or building permit shall be deemed approved as a matter of law, and any necessary permits shall be issued by the building official on the next business day. 

 (b)