Building Safety in New Hampshire (2026)
18 rules on the books across New Hampshire, 3 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Lead Paint
Local lead-paint rules for older housing, hazard abatement orders, inspection triggers, and how local requirements sit alongside the federal disclosure and RRP rules.
Manchester
Some RestrictionsManchester's Housing Code requires every dwelling surface be free of loose or flaking paint, and any newly applied…
Read full rule →Nashua
Some RestrictionsNashua extends the state's lead-paint abatement notice period from 30 to 75 days under its own ordinance, adopting RSA…
Read full rule →Fire Sprinkler Requirements
When residential and commercial buildings must install fire sprinkler systems, including new-construction triggers and major-renovation thresholds.
Hudson
Some RestrictionsHudson, New Hampshire requires approved sprinkler systems in new multifamily buildings of three or more units and new…
Read full rule →Nashua
Some RestrictionsNashua's Housing Standards Code requires a full water sprinkler system throughout any structure with 12 or more…
Read full rule →Childcare Center Rules
Building safety standards specific to family childcare homes and centers, including egress, sprinklers, lead and asbestos clearances, and outdoor play standards.
Manchester
Some RestrictionsManchester requires a City Health Department inspection before a day care can get its state license, with a $30 or $50…
Read full rule →Nashua
Some RestrictionsNashua zoning requires child day-care facilities to sit on a collector or arterial street, fence outdoor play areas up…
Read full rule →Door Locking Hardware
Code requirements for emergency-egress door hardware, including thumb-turn locks, panic bars, and one-action egress required by the building code.
Manchester
Some RestrictionsManchester's housing code requires every dwelling unit's entrance doors to have functioning locking devices in good…
Read full rule →Nashua
Some RestrictionsNashua's Housing Code requires dwelling-unit door locks to be kept in good repair and able to tightly secure the door…
Read full rule →Green Building Code
CALGreen and equivalent state green building codes, plus reach codes that go further (electric-only new construction, EV-readiness, low-VOC materials).
Building Permits
When a building permit is required, new work, renovations, reroofing, decks, the small-project exemptions, and what unpermitted work costs when it surfaces at sale or inspection.
Hudson
Some RestrictionsIn the Town of Hudson, New Hampshire, § 334-16 of the Zoning Ordinance requires a building permit before erecting…
Read full rule →Manchester
Some RestrictionsManchester adopts the NH State Building Code, plus its own local amendments, as the "Building Code of the City of…
Read full rule →Nashua
Some RestrictionsNashua requires a building permit before any reroofing job starts, and the Department of Building Safety won't issue…
Read full rule →Electrical Permits
Which electrical work (panel upgrades, EV chargers, solar inverters, sub-panels) requires a licensed-electrician permit vs. an owner-builder permit.
Hudson
Some RestrictionsElectrical work in the Town of Hudson, New Hampshire requires a permit under the Town's building fee schedule…
Read full rule →Manchester
Some RestrictionsManchester's housing code requires every dwelling unit's electrical service, outlets and fixtures to be installed and…
Read full rule →Nashua
Some RestrictionsNashua adopts NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, and requires a paid permit with a $50 review fee before any…
Read full rule →Plumbing Permits
Which plumbing work (water heaters, sewer-line replacement, repipe, gas-line) requires a permit, and which minor repairs are typically exempt.
Hudson
Some RestrictionsPlumbing work in the Town of Hudson, New Hampshire requires a permit under the Town's building fee schedule…
Read full rule →Nashua
Some RestrictionsNashua adopts the International Plumbing Code as its city Plumbing Code, administered by the Department of Building…
Read full rule →Building Inspections
Required inspection types (rough framing, electrical, plumbing, final), how to schedule, what inspectors look for, and how to handle a failed inspection.