Hudson, NH Building Safety: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (2026)

Chapter 210, Article VI, adopted by the 1999 Annual Town Meeting, establishes Hudson's sprinkler-system requirements. Section 210-15 adopts NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and NFPA 13R, for residential occupancies up to four stories, both 1999 edition, as the Town's installation standards, with the adopted documents on file at the Town Clerk's office. Section 210-18 sets out who must comply: new multifamily structures of three or more units, up to four stories, need an NFPA 13R system, while new multiunit nonresidential structures need full NFPA 13 protection, and existing buildings that expand to three or more residential units or add a second nonresidential use trigger the same requirements.

A narrow exception in § 210-18B excuses multiunit nonresidential buildings under 10,000 square feet that are not on a public or private municipal water system, unless the Town Building Code, State Fire Code or another applicable code requires a sprinkler system anyway. Section 210-19 requires Fire Department approval of every proposed sprinkler system before installation and requires ongoing maintenance to the adopted NFPA standards. On the fee side, § 205-4S charges a nonrefundable $30 sprinkler application fee, then $40 per riser for an NFPA 13D system, $70 per riser for NFPA 13R, and a tiered NFPA 13 fee starting at $110 for up to 10,000 square feet of protected area and rising with the size of the protected space.