NH RSA 483-B — Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act (NH)
Tracked preemption from the New Hampshire overlay bundle.
Overview
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Effective
1991-07-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:NH
Other New Hampshire preemptions
NH HB 631 / Chapter 201 (2025) — Multifamily / Mixed-Use By Right on Commercial LandNH RSA 674:72 — Accessory Dwelling Units (HB 577 / Chapter 197 Rewrite)NH RSA 674:71 / 674:58–61 — Workforce Housing Reasonable Opportunity MandatePease ANG (Air National Guard) AICUZ — Federal Airspace and Noise OverlayNH RSA 674:32 — Manufactured Housing Anti-Exclusionary MandateNH RSA 675 — Procedure for Adoption of Zoning, Subdivision, and Site-Plan RegulationsHubbard Brook Experimental Forest — USFS Research Watershed Carve-OutWhite Mountain National Forest — Federal Land Carve-Out (USFS)
Trigger predicate
When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.
parcel.within_shoreland_protection_zone == TruePreempted fields
3 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
review_type | require_additional | des_shoreland_permit | NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) Shoreland Permit required for construction, excavation, vegetation removal, or impervious-surface addition within 250 ft of the reference line of public waters |
base_districts[*].impervious_coverage | cap_at | 0.3 | Within the 250-ft Protected Shoreland: impervious coverage cap of 30% of lot area; vegetation buffer requirements within 50 ft of reference line |
base_districts[*].setbacks | floor_at | 50 | Minimum 50-ft natural woodland buffer from reference line; primary structure setback ≥50 ft |
Citation
Authority source
NH RSA 483-B (Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act); Env-Wq 1400 (DES Shoreland Rules)
§ RSA 483-B:1 et seq.
Research notes
Statewide minimum standards for shoreland development within 250 ft of public waters (designated lakes, ponds ≥10 acres, rivers fourth-order or greater, coastal waters). Administered by NH DES; permits required for most construction activity within the Protected Shoreland. Municipalities may adopt stricter local shoreland bylaws; state standard is a floor, not a ceiling. Coastal saltwater shoreland and certain large lakes (Winnipesaukee, Squam, Sunapee, Newfound) carry the strongest protections.