Portsmouth planning office to accept applications through OpenGov under state mandate

At the Sept. 11 meeting the planning office told the Town of Portsmouth Planning Board that, beginning Sept. 1, the department is accepting planning applications through the OpenGov electronic platform in order to comply with new state legislation that, by Oct. 1, 2025, requires electronic submission of planning applications across the state.

Town planning staff said zoning applications have been processed on OpenGov since April and that building permits have been filed electronically through the town system since 2017; the broader planning application mandate is new and the department said it will produce a short guidance sheet for board members to help them view larger plan sheets online. The planner said staff will assist board members who prefer paper by making limited hard copies available during the transition period on request.

Why it matters: The procedural change moves the town away from paper plan packets to a statewide electronic submission system. Board members expressed practical concerns about screen size when reviewing multi‑sheet, large‑format plans and asked whether the planning office can continue to provide larger print copies on request while members learn the new system.

Planning staff said the new statewide rule necessitates accepting applications via OpenGov and that staff will help board members learn to navigate plan sheets, annotate digital plans and download 11x17 or full‑size prints if needed. One board member said the change is a “learning curve,” and staff offered to continue providing assistance and occasional hard copies while members adapt.