Brush Clearance: Manchester vs Nashua
How do brush clearance rules compare between Manchester, NH and Nashua, NH?
Manchester has fewer restrictions than Nashua.
Manchester, NH
Hillsborough County
Manchester addresses brush clearance through local fire codes and NH Forest Protection Bureau guidance. No statewide defensible space mandate exists, but RSA 227-L covers forest fire prevention.
View full Manchester rules →Nashua, NH
Hillsborough County
Nashua does not have a stand-alone defensible-space or vegetation-clearance ordinance. Brush and combustible-vegetation hazards are addressed through the New Hampshire State Fire Code (NFPA 1, 2021 edition, adopted statewide effective August 13, 2024 under RSA 153) - including NFPA 1 provisions on outdoor accumulations of combustible waste - and through RSA 227-L (Woodland Fire Control), administered by the NH Division of Forests and Lands, which authorizes town forest fire wardens (the Nashua Fire Chief and designees) to require abatement of fire hazards on land adjacent to forest. Open burning of brush requires a Chapter 110 permit and a written RSA 227-L:17 permit from the forest fire warden.
View full Nashua rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Manchester | Nashua |
|---|---|---|
| State Mandate | No statewide defensible space rule | - |
| Burn Permits | Required under RSA 227-L:17 | - |
| Firewise Program | Voluntary community participation | - |
| Authority | NH Division of Forests and Lands | - |
| Stand-Alone Brush Ordinance | - | None |
| State Fire Code | - | NFPA 1 / NFPA 101, 2021 ed. (RSA 153) |
| Forest Fire Authority | - | RSA 227-L (Woodland Fire Control) |
| Local Burn Permit | - | Required (Nashua Code Ch. 110) |
| Setback for Burning | - | 25 ft (Cat 1) / 50 ft (Cat 2-3) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Manchester FAQ
Do I need to clear brush around my house?
NH has no statewide defensible space mandate, but it is strongly recommended. Check Manchester fire code for any local requirements.
Can I burn brush on my property?
Burning brush requires a written permit from the local forest fire warden under RSA 227-L:17. Permits are issued when conditions are safe.
Nashua FAQ
Does Nashua require brush clearance around homes?
Not as a stand-alone ordinance. Nashua relies on the New Hampshire State Fire Code (NFPA 1, 2021 edition, effective August 13, 2024) for combustible-waste and outdoor-storage provisions, on RSA 227-L (Woodland Fire Control) for forest-fire-warden abatement authority, and on Nashua City Code Chapter 110 (Burning, Open) for permitted disposal of brush piles.
Can I burn a brush pile in my Nashua yard?
Only with a burn permit from Nashua Fire Rescue under City Code § 110-2 and a written forest-fire-warden permit under RSA 227-L:17. A Category 1 permit requires a minimum 25-foot setback from any structure; Categories 2 and 3 require 50 feet and a site visit. Burning is allowed only between 5:00 p.m. and midnight, weather permitting, unless the ground is fully snow-covered.
Who do I call about a fire-hazard brush pile in Nashua?
Contact Nashua Fire Rescue's Fire Marshal's Office at (603) 594-3650 for combustible-waste and unpermitted-burning complaints. The Fire Chief acts as the City Forest Fire Warden under RSA 227-L and can order abatement of vegetation that creates a forest-fire hazard. For an active fire, call 911.
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