New Hampshire SB 509: preventing municipalities from limiting dead-end road length if compliant with the state fire code.

Bill Text

SB 509 - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2105

 06/05

SENATE BILL 509

AN ACT preventing municipalities from limiting dead-end road length if compliant with the state fire code.

SPONSORS: Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. McGough, Dist 11

COMMITTEE: Commerce

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ANALYSIS

 This bill prohibits municipalities from imposing length restrictions on dead-end roads or cul-de-sacs in subdivision approvals or building permits when the proposed road design complies with applicable state fire code requirements.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2105

 06/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT preventing municipalities from limiting dead-end road length if compliant with the state fire code.

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

 1 New Subparagraph; Subdivision Regulations. Amend RSA 674:36, II by inserting after subparagraph (o) the following new subparagraph:

 (p) Subdivision regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall not prohibit or restrict the length of a dead-end road, including cul-de-sacs, if the proposed road design and fire access are certified as compliant with the state fire code as defined in RSA 153:1, VI-a.

 2 New Paragraph; Erection of Buildings on Streets; Appeals. Amend RSA 674:41 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

 V. No municipality or local board shall deny a building permit or otherwise restrict development based solely on the length of a dead-end road, provided the road is constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements of the state fire code as defined in RSA 153:1, VI-a.

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