Nashua, NH Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Bonus ratio
- Set per Table 48-1
- Fractional units
- Round down unless combined
- Off-site/fee-in-lieu units
- Do not qualify for bonus
- Administered by
- Community Development Department
- CO condition
- None issued until units complete
Summary
Nashua's inclusionary zoning ordinance grants a bonus density ratio for developments that provide required on-site affordable units, letting builders add market-rate units above the base zoning cap in exchange for affordable housing.
Any development that provides required affordable units as outlined in this section is eligible for a bonus density ratio as listed in Table 48-1. This ratio is an additional number of market rate units that may be built in proportion to the total number of on-site required affordable units. Off-site units or fees-in-lieu do not count towards this total.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Nashua's Land Use Code ties a density bonus directly to its inclusionary zoning program: any housing development that provides the affordable units required under § 190-48 earns a bonus density ratio set in Table 48-1, an extra number of market-rate units built in proportion to the on-site affordable units provided. Off-site units and fee-in-lieu payments don't count toward the bonus. Fractional bonus units round down unless combined with other fractions to reach a whole unit, and bonus units don't count toward the base unit count used to calculate the inclusionary requirement. The Community Development Department administers the program; the Planning Board approves supporting regulations.
Violations & Fines
No final certificate of occupancy may be issued until the required affordable units or fee-in-lieu payments are complete; developers may not increase market-rate density beyond the bonus ratio without providing the affordable units on-site.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Nashua's density bonus work?
Can a developer pay a fee instead of building affordable units and still get the density bonus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashua
Compare Nashua to another location·View the New Hampshire zoning overlays & bonuses overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.