Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Boscawen, New Hampshire

Town of Boscawen’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, repair, relocation, removal, or demolition of a building or structure inside Boscawen town limits.

  • Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work each need a separate permit.
  • Work should not begin until a permit has been issued.

  “You need a building permit for all construction that involves the construction, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of any building or structure. All electrical, plumbing and mechanical work needs a separate permit for each trade.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  A building or site subject to approved subdivision or site-plan review inside Boscawen town limits.

  • The proposed improvements and use must comply with the approved subdivision and/or site plan and Planning Board conditions.

  “The Building Official shall not approve any certificate of occupancy, nor shall any use of a building or site commence, unless the proposed improvements, and the proposed use of land or buildings, is found to be in compliance with the approved subdivision and/or site plan and the conditions of Planning Board approval.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Boscawen town limits.

  • Uses and structures are subject to the Town zoning ordinance.

  “This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Boscawen, New Hampshire" referred to herein as "this Ordinance."”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Boscawen town limits.

  • District boundaries are shown on the Town zoning map; district regulations are in Articles IV and V.

  number of zoning districts: 7 districts

  “The Town of Boscawen, New Hampshire, is hereby divided into seven (7) Zoning Districts to be designated as follows:”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on private land inside Boscawen town limits.

  • A private campsite needs a camping permit and is limited to one recreational vehicle or temporary structure per lot.
  • Guest occupancy of one travel trailer or self-contained recreational vehicle at a single-family home is limited to 24 weeks in a calendar year.
  • Year-round habitation of a private campsite as a residence or dwelling is prohibited.

  guest RV occupancy maximum: <= 24 weeks per calendar year (Guest of the resident of a single-family home.)

  “One travel trailer or self-contained recreational vehicle may be parked on the property of, and occupied by the guests of, the resident of a single-family home for not more than 24 weeks in one calendar year.”

• Camping on your landAllowed (with conditions)

  Private campsites on otherwise vacant parcels inside Boscawen town limits.

  • One campsite per lot.
  • Camping permit required.
  • Seasonal period is April 15 through October 15; off-season permits may only be weekly and may not be issued for more than two consecutive weeks.
  • Sewage requirements apply.

  seasonal camping period: April 15 to October 15 (One calendar year.) · weekly permit duration: <= 7 days (May be renewed during the camping season if requirements remain met.)

  “A private campsite is permitted on an otherwise vacant parcel in accordance with the following criteria: 1. One private campsite per lot is allowed. A private campsite shall consist of one recreational vehicle or temporary structure, or tents or similar equipment in a reasonable number for private use.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured housing inside Boscawen town limits.

  • New or expanded manufactured-home parks or subdivisions may install only new, unused units.
  • Replacement units in existing parks or individual lots must have been built after May 30, 2006.
  • The installer must make the serial number accessible for HUD-data-plate cross-reference before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
  • The rule does not apply to temporary housing after a fire or other disaster or to construction-site offices.

  “Only new, unused manufactured housing units shall be allowed to be installed in any new manufactured home park or subdivision or any expanded portion of an existing manufactured home park or subdivision.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Boscawen town limits where permitted by the Table of Uses.

  • Building permit required.
  • Maximum one ADU per lot.
  • Maximum gross living area is 950 square feet.
  • The primary dwelling and ADU need adequate drinking-water and sanitary-sewer connections.
  • An ADU cannot be attached to a two-family dwelling, multifamily structure, or manufactured home.

  maximum ADU gross living area: <= 950 square feet · maximum ADUs per lot: <= 1 ADU (Includes lots containing a two-family dwelling.)

  “An ADU shall be permitted only per the Table of Uses via a building permit issued in accordance with the following provisions:”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private campsites inside Boscawen town limits.

  • No on-site sewage discharge is permitted except into an NH DES-approved sewage-disposal system.
  • Weekly campsite permits require adequate sewage storage or arrangements for lawful removal.

  “The applicant shall demonstrate adequate capacity for the storage of sewerage and/or shall demonstrate that arrangements have been made for the lawful removal of sewerage from the site. No onsite discharge of sewerage will be permitted except into a Sewerage Disposal System approved by the NH Department of Environmental Services.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions inside Boscawen town limits.

  • A subdivision may not occur in violation of Town land-development regulations or zoning.
  • Building permits for regulated projects may not issue before site-plan approval and completion of preconstruction conditions.

  “No subdivision, site construction, or change of use of land, shall occur in violation of these regulations and the Town of Boscawen Zoning Ordinance.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Proposed development in a special flood hazard area inside Boscawen town limits.

  • The Code Enforcement Officer reviews building-permit applications for new construction or substantial improvements in special flood hazard areas.
  • Additional construction, utility-system, and documentation requirements apply.

  “15.02 All proposed development in any special flood hazard area shall require a permit.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Boscawen or Merrimack County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Boscawen town limits.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Boscawen town limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Boscawen town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the Agricultural–Residential (A–R) district inside Boscawen town limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Boscawen town limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Boscawen means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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