Nashua, NH Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

Because Nashua has no STR ordinance, the city does not maintain a registration, application, fee schedule, inspection regime, local-contact registry, or renewal process for short-term rentals. The single mandatory registration step is the statewide NH DRA Meals and Rooms License under RSA 78-A:4. Operators register through the Granite Tax Connect portal at gtc.revenue.nh.gov by creating an account, completing the M&R license application (business name, federal EIN or SSN, property address, expected monthly tax liability), and paying the application fee. NH DRA issues the license certificate, which must be posted at the property. The license must be renewed in accordance with DRA's renewal cycle (typically annually). RSA 78-A:6, V mandates that 'every advertisement, listing, or solicitation of a short-term rental shall include the meals and rooms license number of the operator,' which means every Airbnb listing, Vrbo listing, Booking.com listing, direct-rental website, print ad, and on-property signage must display the M&R license number. The DRA cross-references platform-listing data against the M&R license database in audits and issues compliance demand letters to unregistered operators. RSA 78-A:6-c distributes 30% of net M&R revenue to the cities and towns under the catalyst fund / municipal-aid framework, so Nashua receives indirect benefit from STR activity even without a city registration program. Beyond M&R registration, an STR operator must already comply with (1) Chapter 190 Land Use Code zoning permissions for the underlying dwelling district, (2) Chapter 182 Housing Standards life-safety duties (smoke / CO alarms, egress, sanitary plumbing), (3) Chapter 201 Noise rules, and (4) the Building Code certificate-of-occupancy and Fire Code inspection regime through the Nashua Building Department and Fire Marshal's Office - but none of these is an 'STR-specific' registration. The Nashua Re-Code Land Use Code update launched in February 2024 could introduce a city-level registration; until that is adopted, the M&R license is the only required record.