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Building inspector flags unpermitted ADUs after NH 'by right' changes; board to review recent installs
Summary
Building Inspector Matt Garside reported 87 permits YTD and raised concerns about accessory dwelling units installed without proper permits or E911 addresses after a change in New Hampshire ADU law; he proposed case-by-case reviews and assigning addresses for life-safety.
At the June 2 meeting, Building Inspector Matt Garside told the Select Board that the town has issued 87 permits year to date, collecting about $19,000 in fees and seeing an uptick in single-family, electrical and renovation permits. He raised a specific concern: the recent New Hampshire ADU "by right" changes have coincided with unaddressed or unpermitted accessory dwelling units (ADUs) appearing in town.
Garside proposed the board consider case-by-case reviews of ADUs installed within the last four years and to assign addresses when needed for life-safety even if permitting is incomplete. He said the proposal is intended to prioritize emergency response and E911 accuracy rather than to penalize owners. The board agreed the issue requires further discussion and took no vote.
Garside also noted his building-inspector contract expires July 14 and that a revised contract will be submitted for board review. The board did not set a public timeline for the ADU review process during the meeting.
The Select Board will follow up on the ADU review and the inspector’s contract in a future meeting; no formal action was taken at the June 2 session.
