N.H. Rev. Stat. § 674:51 — NH Code / Title LXIV / Chapter 674 / Section 51
674:51 Power to Amend State Building Code and Establish Enforcement Procedures.
Status: in_force

The state building code established in RSA 155-A shall be effective in all towns and cities in the state and shall be enforced as provided in RSA 155-A:7. In addition, towns and cities shall have the following authority: I. The local legislative body may enact as an ordinance or adopt, pursuant to the procedures of RSA 675:2-4, additional amendments to the state building code for structures in the municipality, providing that such additional amendments are not inconsistent with or less stringent than, nor intended to replace, the requirements of the most recent edition of the state building code adopted under RSA 155-A, and provided that each amendment submitted to the building code review board relates to one article or section of that code. The local legislative body may adopt a nationally recognized code not included in, and not inconsistent with, the state building code, except for a nationally recognized code which has the same or similar scope or purpose, as determined by the building code review board, that is included in the most recent edition of the state building code adopted under RSA 155-A, and the intent of this restriction shall not be avoided by the adoption of local amendments as determined by the building code review board. The local legislative body may also enact a process for the enforcement of the state building code, additional amendments and any additional codes adopted under this paragraph. Local amendments and codes regulated by this paragraph adopted prior to July 1, 2024, and the procedural history of adoption per RSA 155-A:10 shall be submitted for review to the building code review board for review and confirmation that such additional amendments are not inconsistent with or less stringent than, nor intended to replace, the requirements of the most recent edition of the building code adopted under RSA 155-A. No local amendment shall be enforced if it has not been submitted to the building code review board within 60 days of the effective date of this paragraph. Upon the withholding of confirmation of a submitted local amendment by the state building code review board, the amendment shall not be enforced. II. Any such ordinance enacted or adopted under paragraph I by a local legislative body shall not be enforced unless confirmed by the building code review board pursuant to RSA 155-A:10, IV(c). The procedural history of local adoption relating to published notice, public hearing, and vote of approval shall be submitted to the board within 30 days of enactment or adoption and prior to enforcement. III. The local ordinance or amendment adopted according to the provisions of paragraph I shall include, at a minimum, the following provisions: (a) The date of first enactment of any building code regulations in the municipality and of each subsequent amendment thereto. (b) Provision for the establishment of a building code board of appeals as provided in RSA 673:1, V; 673:3, IV; and 673:5. (c) Provision for the establishment of the position of building inspector as provided in RSA 673:1, V. The building inspector shall have the authority to issue building permits as provided in RSA 676:11-13 and any certificates of occupancy as enacted pursuant to paragraph III, and to perform inspections as may be necessary to assure compliance with the local building code. (d) A schedule of fees, or a provision authorizing the governing body to establish fees, to be charged for building permits, inspections, and for any certificate of occupancy enacted pursuant to paragraph III. IV. The regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph I may include a requirement for a certificate of occupancy to be issued prior to the use or occupancy of any building or structure that is erected or remodeled, or undergoes a change or expansion of use, subsequent to the effective date of such requirement. V. No municipality or local land use board as defined in RSA 672:7 shall adopt any ordinance, regulation, code, or administrative practice requiring the installation of automatic fire suppression sprinklers in any new or existing detached one or 2-family dwelling unit in a structure used only for residential purposes, or in existing buildings that contain, or will contain, no more than 4 dwelling units, unless fire sprinklers are existing or are required by a nonresidential occupancy. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no municipality or local land use board shall enforce any existing ordinance, regulation, code, or administrative practice requiring the installation or use of automatic fire suppression sprinklers in any manufactured housing unit as defined in RSA 674:31 situated in a manufactured housing park as defined in RSA 205-A:1, II. Nothing in this paragraph shall affect the ability of an applicant for a local land use permit to include the installation of fire suppression sprinklers pursuant to RSA 674:36, IV, or affect the validity or enforceability of such inclusion. VI. Notwithstanding paragraph I, no county, city, town, village district, local land use board, or other subdivision of this state shall adopt any ordinance, regulation, code, or administrative practice that prohibits or restricts a person or entity from installing a safe and commercially available heating or other energy system of their choice or to engage the services of an energy provider of their choice to install, connect, or resupply such energy system. In this paragraph, "energy provider" means a qualified and licensed distributor of oil, propane, natural gas, or other company or entity that supplies energy or related services to the public.