Committee hears HB 685 to allow manufactured housing in residential zones; advocates praise affordability, municipal group warns of overbroad language

Representative Joe Alexander introduced HB 685 as a measure to expand private property rights and increase affordable housing by allowing manufactured housing in all residentially zoned areas of New Hampshire.

Nut graf: Proponents said manufactured homes are durable, increasingly high quality, and priced well below site-built homes; opponents and municipal representatives recommended tightening the bill’s language to avoid unintended consequences for local planning and industrial/commercial parcels.

Alexander told the committee HB 685 amends RSA 674:31 to clarify the definition of manufactured housing and would require municipalities to permit manufactured housing in residential zones, with a six‑month window for local ordinance changes. He said the bill excludes campers and recreational vehicles and aims to protect property‑owner choice while maintaining health-and-safety standards.

Supporters included the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, which provides manufactured‑home mortgages and resident‑ownership financing; Abby Bronson testified the nonprofit’s experience shows manufactured homes can make homeownership affordable and “are on par with site built homes in terms of durability and safety.” Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire and Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire additionally urged equal treatment for manufactured homes to counter stigma.

Manufactured‑home advocates and planners argued the market for manufactured housing is growing and local bans restrict an affordable housing source. Witness Ivy Van, a certified land‑use planner, said modern manufactured housing “is not your granddaddy’s hunting camp anymore,” and highlighted cottage‑court and shared‑systems models as options for compact, community-minded development.

The New Hampshire Municipal Association opposed the bill in its present form. Brody Deshales testified the broad prohibition on municipal regulations “that discriminates against manufactured housing” is too vague and could limit reasonable municipal zoning safeguards. NHMA representatives suggested clarifying terms such as “discriminate” and offering guidance for reasonable local standards (e.g., fixed foundations, design standards, utility capacity checks) so municipalities can preserve health, safety and town character.

Supporters pointed to market data: testimony from the NH Realtors’ representative said manufactured housing comprised about 10% of residential sales in 2024 and a reported median sale price of roughly $162,000 compared with $514,000 for single‑family homes — figures witnesses argued show manufactured housing’s affordability.

Ending: The committee received wide-ranging testimony and closed the hearing on HB 685; no vote on final passage occurred that day. Sponsors and stakeholders indicated they would work on clarifying the bill’s language and on whether to exempt specific industrial uses.