Manchester, NH Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- RSA 673 / RSA 674:44-a
- Members
- Seven, Mayor-appointed, one alderman
- Term length
- Three years, staggered
- Referral response
- 30 days when asked
- Meetings
- At least four per year
Summary
Manchester's Heritage Commission, created under RSA 673, has advisory authority to survey, research, and advise on historic and cultural resources, including monuments and landmarks, citywide.
A Heritage Commission is hereby established in the city in accordance with R.S.A. 673. ... the purpose of the Heritage Commission shall be to insure the proper recognition, use and protection of resources, primarily manmade, that are valuable for their historic, cultural, aesthetic, or community significance within their natural, built, or cultural context.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen created the Heritage Commission by ordinance under RSA 673 to protect resources "primarily manmade, that are valuable for their historic, cultural, aesthetic, or community significance." Seven members, one an alderman, serve staggered three-year terms. Under RSA 674:44-b the commission surveys and inventories cultural and historic resources, drafts historic district ordinances, advises the Planning Board and other boards on requests affecting those resources (with a 30-day response window), and controls a dedicated heritage fund. It also absorbed the former Historic District Commission's oversight of the Amoskeag Corporation Housing and Amoskeag Millyard Historic Districts.
Violations & Fines
No permits or fines attach here -- the commission's role is advisory only; any binding historic-district enforcement runs through the separate Zoning Ordinance, not this chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Manchester have a monument or landmark protection law?
Can the Heritage Commission block demolition or alteration of a monument?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
Compare Manchester to another location·View the New Hampshire historic preservation overview
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