Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Hart's Location, New Hampshire

Town of Hart's Location’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction projects inside Hart's Location that change a structure's value or footprint.

  • Interior renovations that do not substantially change value are exempt unless the total number of bedrooms or bathrooms changes.

  “Building Permits are required for all construction projects that change the value or footprint of any structure on parcels of land in Hart’s Location. Interior renovations that do not substantially change the value of a structure do not require a building permit unless the total number of bedrooms or bathrooms is being changed.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Ongoing permitted construction inside Hart's Location.

  • Inspection is for permit compliance.

  “The board of selectmen has the authority per RSA 676:17 and duty to inspect ongoing construction for permit compliance, and to enforce all ordinances, by any legal action available or necessary.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hart's Location town, Carroll County, New Hampshire.

  • The ordinance covers the entire town as a rural and residential district.

  “For the purpose of this ordinance the entire town of Hart's Location is zoned as a rural and residential district.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Habitation in Hart's Location's townwide rural and residential district.

  • At least 150 feet of frontage is required on a highway, road, private road, or right-of-way.

  minimum lot area: >= 2.5 acres · minimum frontage: >= 150 feet

  “No land in Hart's Location of lesser area than 2.5 acres may be used as habitation. There must be at least a 150 foot frontage on any highway, road, private road, or right of way.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings and outbuildings in Hart's Location's townwide rural and residential district.

  • The road setback is the greater of 75 feet from road centerline or 25 feet from the edge of a right-of-way.

  property-line setback: >= 25 feet · road-centerline setback: >= 75 feet (Or 25 feet from the edge of the right-of-way, whichever is greater)

  “No buildings or outbuilding may be closer than 25 feet to any property line, or closer than 75 feet from the center line of a road or 25 feet from the edge of a right-of-way, whichever is greater.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Dwellings and structures in Hart's Location's townwide rural and residential district.

  • The lower of the story and height limits controls.

  maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories (Whichever is less than the height limit) · maximum height: <= 40 feet (Whichever is less than the story limit)

  “In no instance shall any dwelling or structure be over 2.5 stories or 40 feet in height, whichever is less.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Travel trailers used as residences inside Hart's Location, outside the stated exclusions.

  • More than 30 days requires a Zoning Board of Adjustment special exception upon a finding of no detriment or injury to the neighborhood; bona fide campgrounds, camping areas, and manufactured homes on permanent foundations are excluded.

  maximum residence duration: <= 30 days (Special exception by the Zoning Board of Adjustment)

  “Travel trailers, as a residence, and storage trailers may not be located in Hart’s location for more than 30 days except with special exception granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, upon finding that the same will not be detrimental or injurious to the neighborhood. Bonafide camp grounds, camping areas and manufactured homes on permanent foundations are excluded.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Manufactured housing in Hart's Location's residential district.

  • The ordinance applies where residential uses are permitted.

  “Manufactured housing, as defined in RSA 674:31, is permitted as a matter of right in all districts where residential uses are permitted, consistent with RSA 674:31-b.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Lots containing a single-family dwelling inside Hart's Location.

  • One attached or detached ADU is permitted by right.
  • Either the principal dwelling or ADU must be owner-occupied.
  • The ADU must comply with state water and septic laws.
  • ADUs may not be used as short-term rentals.
  • Maximum living space is 750 square feet unless authorized by the Planning Board.

  maximum ADU living space: <= 750 square feet (Unless authorized by the Planning Board)

  “One (1) accessory dwelling unit (ADU) whether attached or detached shall be permitted by right on any lot containing a single-family dwelling, consistent with RSA 674:71– 73. [...] Either the principal dwelling or the accessory dwelling unit shall be owner-occupied; the Town shall not require which unit the owner must occupy (RSA 674:73 I). [...] The ADU shall comply with State water and septic laws. [...] The ADU shall not exceed 750 sq. ft. of living space unless authorized by the Planning Board.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivided into two or more dwelling lots inside Hart's Location.

  • The town's 1976 subdivision regulations apply.

  dwelling lots triggering regulation: >= 2 lots

  “Any piece of land subdivided into two or more lots for dwellings shall be utilized in accordance with the subdivision regulations adopted by the town of Hart's Location in 1976.(See Appendix A)”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Access roads and driveways connecting existing roads to proposed building lots within Hart's Location's Flood Plain District.

  • They must comply with state and federal regulations.

  “Any right of ways, access roads, driveways, bridges, etc., connecting existing roads to proposed building lots within the Flood Plain District shall be constructed in accordance with state and federal regulations.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Proposed development in any special flood hazard area inside Hart's Location.

  • The Selectmen cannot grant a building permit until the applicant certifies receipt of all federal or state approvals required by law.

  “All proposed development in any special flood hazard area shall require a permit. The Board of Selectmen shall not grant a building permit until the applicant certifies that all necessary permits have been received from those governmental agencies from which approval is required by federal or state law, including Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U. S. C. 1334.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Hart's Location.

  • This claim is limited to ADUs and does not establish a townwide short-term-rental rule.

  “An Accessory Dwelling Unit shall not be used as a short-term rental. Those found in violation shall be subject to enforcement under Section IV.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Hart's Location.

  • Submit the application in duplicate to the Board of Selectmen.
  • A signed permit copy is returned when approved.
  • For a new residence, addition, or remodel, submit the New Hampshire Residential Energy Code Application.
  • Permits are active two years from issue; incomplete projects need renewal after that period.

  initial permit period: 2 years (Incomplete projects require renewal)

  “Complete and submit this application in duplicate. When approved, one copy of the signed permit will be returned to the owner. [...] Building Permits shall be considered active for a period of two years from the date of issue. After this period, any incomplete projects will require renewal of the permit. [...] If building is a new residence or an addition or remodel of an existing residence, you must also submit the New Hampshire Residential Energy Code Application along with this building permit application.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Hart's Location

Town of Hart's Location does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings constructed inside Hart's Location town.

  • The state code applies without further local modification except as state law permits.

  “The state building code established in RSA 155-A shall be effective in all municipalities, as defined in RSA 155-A:1, XI, in the state, without further local modification, except as permitted by this section, and shall be enforced as provided in RSA 155-A:7.”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Sewage and waste-disposal systems serving buildings inside Hart's Location.

  • State approval is a minimum and does not lessen local-authority powers under other statutes.

  “No person shall construct any building from which sewage or other wastes will discharge or construct a sewage or waste disposal system without prior approval of the plans and specifications of the sewage or waste disposal system by the department. Nothing herein shall be construed to modify or lessen the powers conferred upon local authorities by other statutes; provided, however, that in all instances the requirements contained in this chapter shall be considered as minimum.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Buildings discharging sewage and sewage or waste-disposal systems inside Hart's Location.

  • Prior departmental approval of plans and specifications is required.

  “No person shall construct any building from which sewage or other wastes will discharge or construct a sewage or waste disposal system without prior approval of the plans and specifications of the sewage or waste disposal system by the department.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Constructed sewage or waste-disposal systems inside Hart's Location.

  • The system must follow approved plans and cannot be covered or operated before final inspection and approval by an authorized departmental agent.

  “The constructed sewage or waste disposal systems shall be in strict accordance with approved plans, and the facilities shall not be covered or placed in operation without final inspection and approval by an authorized agent of the department.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage or waste disposal serving property inside Hart's Location.

  • A building from which sewage or waste discharges, and any sewage or waste-disposal system, need prior departmental plan approval.

  “No person shall construct any building from which sewage or other wastes will discharge or construct a sewage or waste disposal system without prior approval of the plans and specifications of the sewage or waste disposal system by the department.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Hart's Location or Carroll County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Hart's Location.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Hart's Location.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Hart's Location's rural and residential district.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Hart's Location.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hart's Location.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.