Accessory Dwelling Units

As part of the effort to ease the Monadnock Region’s housing challenges, SWRPC is working to bring Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) into the housing conversation.  

From downsizing retirees, to post-grads moving back home, to workers struggling to afford rent, ADUs can provide independent living spaces that are low-maintenance, low-cost, and close in proximity to family and community services. 

ADUs are small, secondary dwellings on the property of an existing single-family home. ADUs come in all shapes and sizes, from new, detached cottages to home additions or basement apartments to existing garage revamps. These structures are designed to blend into the surrounding neighborhood and increase the Region’s housing stock organically.  

Some benefits of ADUs

  1. Increase housing stock and density by using land that is already developed without compromising the neighborhood “feel.” 
  2. Promote social bonds by providing opportunities for intergenerational living.  
  3. Decrease costs of living by providing secondary forms of income, smaller dwelling footprints, and easing the housing market. 

Are there ADUs in the Monadnock Region?

Yes! New Hampshire passed a law in 2017 that mandates municipalities to permit ADUs in some capacity. While municipalities are not allowed to prohibit ADUs, they do have permission to regulate them by as-of-right, special exception, or conditional use permit. Each of these involves a different permitting process, with as-of-right being the smoothest route. Every municipality falls under one of these three categories and that information should be in your town’s most recent Zoning Ordinance. For municipalities in the Monadnock Region, town-specific ADU regulations and resources for homeowners and municipalities are in the tables below.

ADU Ordinances

A New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Accessory Dwelling Units NH Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA) Comprehensive guide for NH homeowners to plan an ADU 
Building an ADU: your online resource for accessory dwelling units buildanadu.com Website with resource packets, videos, courses, and a book 
How-to-do an ADU: A Virtual Workshop on Creating an Accessory Dwelling Unit in Your Own Home Southern NH Planning Commission 1 hour, 45 minute video session 
An ADU for you Portsmouth Smart Growth, PS21, NHHFA 1 hour, 45 minute video session  
The ABCs of ADUsAmerican Association of Retired Persons (AARP) General overview, focus on 65+ population 
Planning for Accessory Dwellings NH Office of Energy and Planning General guide to reading ADU regulations 
Accessory DwellingsNH Office of Strategic Initiatives Guide to the 2017 ADU law and what it means 

Policy and Program Models for Creating Accessory Dwelling Units in New Hampshire Southern NH Planning Commission for NH Housing Accompanying flyer here
Accessory Dwelling Units in NH: A Guide for Municipalities NH Housing Introduction to ADUs and how they affect municipalities 
NH ADU Laws Explained NH Housing Appendix C to A New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Accessory Dwelling Units 
ADU Resources NH Housing Appendix D to A New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Accessory Dwelling Units 
The ABCs of ADUsAmerican Association of Retired Persons (AARP) General overview, focus on 65+ population. 
Policy and Program Models for Creating Accessory Dwelling Units in New Hampshire NH Office of Energy and Planning General guide to reading ADU regulations 
Accessory Dwellings NH Office of Strategic Initiatives Guide to the 2017 ADU law and what it means


Resources & Helpful Links

Contact Information

Todd Horner
Executive Director

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