repealing accessory dwelling units and detached accessory dwelling units.
HB 1012 repeals New Hampshire’s statutory framework for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs). The bill removes the existing provisions in RSA 674:71 through RSA 674:73 that define and regulate these housing types, which are typically secondary residential units located on the same lot as a single-family home. In place of the repealed sections, the bill adds a new reference section in RSA 21:56 that supplies definitions for “accessory dwelling unit,” “attached unit,” and “detached unit” for interpretive purposes.
As introduced, the bill would eliminate the specific legal authority and rules governing ADUs and detached ADUs under current land-use law, while preserving a general set of definitions that could be used when construing references to those terms elsewhere in the statutes. The act would take effect 60 days after passage. In practical terms, the bill would affect homeowners, municipalities, zoning boards, and housing developers by removing the existing statutory pathway for creating or regulating these units under the repealed sections.
The bill would materially change New Hampshire housing and zoning law by repealing the statutes that currently govern accessory dwelling units and detached accessory dwelling units. This would remove RSA 674:71, RSA 674:72, and RSA 674:73 from the books, reducing or eliminating the explicit statewide framework for ADU and DADU approval, definitions, and regulation. Local governments and property owners would no longer rely on those specific provisions when addressing secondary units on single-family lots, although the new RSA 21:56 definitions could still be used for interpreting other laws that mention these unit types.
No committee transcript or recorded vote information is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, amendment activity, or final support/opposition in the materials supplied. Based on the bill’s subject matter and sponsorship, the measure appears to be a housing-policy proposal with likely interest from lawmakers concerned about land-use regulation and neighborhood impacts. The available record does not show whether the bill was broadly supported or opposed in committee.
The main point of contention is likely the policy choice between preserving ADUs as a housing-supply tool and repealing them to limit density or local zoning changes. Supporters of repeal may argue that accessory units can alter neighborhood character, strain infrastructure, or undermine local control, while opponents would likely view ADUs and detached ADUs as important options for affordable housing, multigenerational living, and gentle density. Because no transcripts are included, the specific arguments of sponsors, committee members, municipalities, or housing advocates are not documented in the provided materials.