Manchester's Homelessness & Encampment Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles homelessness & encampment rules a little differently. In Manchester, New Hampshire, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Encampment Sanitation

Manchester clears unauthorized encampments under public-health authority in Chapter 150 and refuse provisions in Chapter 310, with notice and outreach coordinated through the Continuum of Care before enforcement.

Key details: Authority: Ch. 150, Ch. 310. Notice window: 24-72 hours. Outreach partners: FIT, 1269 Cafe. Caselaw: Grants Pass 2024.

Failing to provide adequate notice or destroying clearly identifiable personal property without storage exposes the city to civil-rights claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and state constitutional analogs.

Sit-Lie Rules

Manchester has not adopted a citywide sit-lie ordinance criminalizing sitting or lying on public sidewalks; enforcement against unhoused residents proceeds primarily through general loitering, trespass, and obstruction provisions.

Key details: Sit-lie ordinance: None citywide. Primary statutes: RSA 635:2, Ch. 350. Outreach lead: Manchester CoC. 2024 caselaw: Grants Pass.

General trespass and obstruction citations under RSA 635:2 or Chapter 350 may apply, with violations typically charged as violations or misdemeanors rather than under any sit-lie-specific statute.

Manchester is more permissive than most cities when it comes to sit-lie rules. That said, there are still limits.

Bridge Housing Siting

Manchester does not regulate bridge housing through a standalone ordinance; transitional and bridge beds operate under the NH Continuum of Care, Families in Transition, and HUD-funded shelter zoning permitted in most districts.

Key details: Coordinator: Manchester CoC. Lead provider: Families in Transition. Zoning: Mostly permitted use. FHA protection: Disabled occupants.

Operating an unlicensed bridge facility without proper occupancy permits, fire inspections, or zoning approval can trigger enforcement under Chapters 70, 130, and 410.

The rules around bridge housing siting in Manchester lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Manchester gives residents more room on homelessness & encampment rules. 2 of the 3 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

Keep in mind that Manchester can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.