Committee hears bill to ban beaching moored boats without a permit on lakes

A bill to tighten mooring rules on New Hampshire lakes by expanding the statutory definition of “mooring” was supported by the state police marine patrol and by lakefront residents at a Senate Transportation Committee hearing.

What the bill would do: Representatives described House Bill 393 as a clarification that would include beach‑parked boats supported by removable stands or “sea legs” in the definition of a mooring. The change would require a permit for these devices where permits are already required for moorings, and the House amendment preserved customary exemptions for marine construction and government vessels.

Law‑enforcement and neighbor concerns: Capt. Tim Dunleavy of the State Police Marine Patrol said the statutory definition currently omits several commonly used devices and that property owners without adequate frontage are using these devices to skirt permit requirements. He and other witnesses said this can create safety hazards and effectively privatize public shoreline by enabling lengthy, unattended storage of vessels on public beaches.

Neighbor testimony: A resident of Deer Cove on Lake Ossipee told senators his neighborhood has had a 20‑ to 50‑foot stretch of beach effectively occupied by a parked boat for five years; he said the unregulated placement made it difficult to use the beach and raised safety concerns for sailboats launching.

Next steps: The committee received the testimony in support; the transcript shows the committee later voted in executive session to move HB 393 as “ought to pass.”