Permit Requirements: Manchester vs Nashua
How do permit requirements rules compare between Manchester, NH and Nashua, NH?
Manchester and Nashua have similar restriction levels.
Manchester, NH
Hillsborough County
Manchester NH manages STR demand driven by tax-free shopping tourism and Boston metro proximity. New Hampshire no-sales-tax advantage draws visitors with the city requiring registration for vacation rental operators.
View full Manchester rules →Nashua, NH
Hillsborough County
The City of Nashua does not have a stand-alone short-term rental (STR) permit, license, or registration program in its municipal code or its Chapter 190 Land Use Code. New Hampshire has no statewide STR licensing scheme and no statewide preemption either way - RSA 31:39 leaves the question of local STR regulation to each municipality, and Nashua's Board of Aldermen has not adopted an STR-specific chapter as of the date of this entry. The only mandatory operator credential is the statewide Meals and Rooms (Rentals) License issued by the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (NH DRA) under RSA 78-A, which every operator renting accommodations for fewer than 185 consecutive days must obtain before advertising or accepting bookings. STR uses are subject to the underlying use restrictions of the dwelling unit's zoning district in Chapter 190 of the Nashua Revised Ordinances, plus generally applicable health, building, fire, noise (Chapter 201), and housing (Chapter 182) codes.
View full Nashua rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Manchester | Nashua |
|---|---|---|
| Tax-Free | Shopping tourism | - |
| Boston | Metro proximity | - |
| Registration | Required for STRs | - |
| Tax | Rooms and meals tax | - |
| Nashua STR Permit | - | NOT REQUIRED - no city ordinance exists |
| Nashua STR License | - | NOT REQUIRED - no city ordinance exists |
| State License | - | NH DRA Meals and Rooms License (RSA 78-A:4) - REQUIRED |
| Advertising Rule | - | M&R license number must appear in every listing (RSA 78-A:6, V) |
| State Preemption | - | None - RSA 31:39 leaves regulation to municipalities |
| Applicable City Codes | - | Ch. 190 (zoning), Ch. 182 (housing), Ch. 201 (noise), Ch. 128 (construction) |
| Bed & Breakfast | - | Separately regulated in Chapter 190 Land Use Code |
| Pending Recodification | - | Nashua Re-Code project launched Feb 2024, target completion 2025 |
| Issuing Agency | - | NH Department of Revenue Administration (gtc.revenue.nh.gov) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Manchester FAQ
Do I need a permit to rent my home short-term?
You must register with NH Department of Revenue Administration. Check Manchester zoning for any local permit requirements.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals?
New Hampshire charges 8.5% meals and rooms tax under RSA 78-A on all rentals under 185 consecutive days.
Nashua FAQ
Do I need a permit from Nashua to operate an Airbnb?
No. The City of Nashua does not have a short-term rental permit, license, or registration program in its Revised Ordinances or its Chapter 190 Land Use Code. The only mandatory operator credential is the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration's Meals and Rooms (Rentals) License under RSA 78-A, which is a state license obtained through the Granite Tax Connect portal at gtc.revenue.nh.gov. RSA 78-A:6, V also requires you to include your M&R license number in every advertisement or online listing. Your operation must still comply with the underlying zoning district in Chapter 190, the housing standards in Chapter 182, and the noise rules in Chapter 201.
Is Nashua planning to adopt a short-term rental ordinance?
Possibly. Nashua launched a comprehensive Land Use Code update in February 2024 (the Nashua Re-Code project, in partnership with Principle Group) with a target completion in late 2025. Any STR-specific regulation in Nashua would likely emerge from that recodification process. New Hampshire has not preempted local STR regulation, and the Board of Aldermen has authority under RSA 31:39 to adopt one, but no such chapter currently exists. Until the city adopts something specific, only the state M&R license under RSA 78-A applies.
Can the state of New Hampshire stop my Nashua STR operation?
Not directly, but the NH Department of Revenue Administration can assess civil penalties under RSA 78-A:7 for operating without a Meals and Rooms License, collect unpaid M&R tax with interest under RSA 21-J:32, and require platform delistings under RSA 78-A:6, V. New Hampshire has no statewide STR ban, no statewide cap, and no statewide preemption either way - the legislature has repeatedly debated bills (e.g., 2022 HB1571, 2025 HB503) but no statewide STR framework has been enacted, leaving Nashua and other municipalities free to regulate if they choose.
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