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State housing law will reshape local zoning, NHCOG staff warn
Summary
NHCOG staff summarized a sweeping state housing bill that requires towns to allow 2–9 unit housing in commercial zones by summary review, treat manufactured homes as single-family housing, and deliver developable land inventories and regional growth targets over 2026–2027.
NHCOG housing staff outlined how a broad state housing bill will change local planning and zoning rules and set deadlines for regional planning work.
Rista, NHCOG housing and downtown specialist, told the council the bill requires towns to allow 2–9-unit and certain mixed-unit housing in commercial zones by summary review — meaning applications can be approved without a public hearing, special permit or variance if they meet nondiscretionary standards. She said municipalities must also revise parking rules for smaller multifamily developments and that the law treats manufactured and mobile homes as single-family dwellings.
The change to summary review removes many procedural barriers, Rista said, but leaves interpretive questions: "What is a commercial or…
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