HB 1136 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee
Expanding accessory dwelling unit rules
AI-generatedrelative to accessory dwelling units.
Allows municipalities to authorize accessory dwelling units by right, conditional use permit, or special exception, permits more than one ADU per single-family dwelling, expands ingress and egress standards to all ADUs, and preserves municipal authority to enforce local septic ordinances.AI-generated
Status
Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate; died at adjournment · March 4, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill: I. Allows municipalities to authorize accessory dwelling units by matter of right, conditional use permit, or special exception. II. Permits municipalities to allow more than one ADU per single-family dwelling. III. Clarifies that if a zoning ordinance contains no ADU provisions, one ADU shall be deemed a permitted accessory use without municipal conditions other than building permits, if required by municipal ordinance. IV. Expands ingress and egress standards to apply to all ADUs, not just attached units, and prohibits municipalities from limiting the choice of access method. V. Allows municipalities to enforce local septic pumping ordinances while maintaining the prohibition on requiring separate systems for principal and accessory units. VI. Affirms municipal authority to require owner occupancy of one unit, without specifying which unit, and to establish reasonable enforcement regulations. VII. Distinguishes between attached and detached ADUs for purposes of aesthetic regulation and size limits; attached ADUs may be regulated for aesthetic continuity with the principal dwelling; detached ADUs may be subject to aesthetic standards only if such standards apply to the principal dwelling; and municipalities may set minimum and maximum size limits, but may not restrict ADUs to less than 750 square feet. VIII. Allows municipalities to impose a familial relationship between occupants of the ADU and the principal dwelling. IX. Allows municipalities to prohibit ADUs associated with townhouses, manufactured housing or rented/leased land. X. Prohibits condominium conveyance of an ADU separate from the principal dwelling unless expressly allowed by the municipality.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
- Rep. Bill BoydRClerk· Public Works and Highways
- Rep. Shane SiroisRClerk· Legislative Administration
- Rep. Jodi NelsonRClerk· Children and Family Law
Also: Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. Charles FooteR
Public testimony
28 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony
21% support79% oppose0% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“Please support HB1136 as it is clarifying and well thought out. This bill will increase / and facilitate the construction of more ADUs in NH, not hinder it.…”
“This was felt to be a good idea last year and there is no reason to change at this point”
“I write in strong opposition to HB 1136, a bill that, while well-intentioned, represents a significant overreach into local land-use authority and a fundamentally flawed approach to housing policy in New Hampshire.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Hearings
- 2026-01-229:30 amHouse HousingGP 231Public hearingrescheduled
- 2026-02-0310:00 amHouse HousingGP 231Public hearing
- 2026-03-0310:00 amHouse HousingGP 231Public hearing
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Housing HJ 1 P. 7
- Jan 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2026 10:30 am GP 231
- Feb 3, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
- Mar 3, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
- Mar 3, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/03/2026 (Vote 17-0; RC) HC 10 P. 93
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.