SB 283 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
22May2025... 1596h
2025 SESSION
25-1093
06/02
SENATE BILL 283
AN ACT relative to the calculation of floor-area-ratios under local building ordinances.
SPONSORS: Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29
COMMITTEE: Commerce
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires municipalities to exclude below-grade areas from floor-area-ratio (FAR) calculations, but allows developers to utilize below-grade areas for certain purposes without impacting the calculation of FAR for the building.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22May2025... 1596h 25-1093
06/02
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the calculation of floor-area-ratios under local building ordinances.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Maximum Capacity and Height Potential for New Construction. Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 76 the following new subdivision:
Maximum Capacity and Height Potential for New Construction
674:77 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "Floor-area-ratio (FAR)" means the ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of the parcel of land upon which it is built.
II. "Below-grade area" means any part of a building that is entirely or partially below the ground level, including basements, cellars, and sublevels.
III. "New construction" means any newly constructed building or structure, including those that are newly erected or created by major renovations.
674:78 Amendment to Zoning Regulations.
I. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, municipalities with floor-area-ratio (FAR) limitations shall exclude below-grade areas from the calculation of FAR for new construction projects.
II. Developers may utilize below-grade areas for purposes such as parking, storage, mechanical spaces, and additional facilities, without impacting the calculation of FAR for the building.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| May 6, 2025 | 2025-1596h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| March 4, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 4, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 20, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 8, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| May 6, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| May 6, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
May 22, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-1596h: MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15
May 22, 2025: Amendment # 2025-1596h: AA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15
May 6, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1596h 05/06/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC)
April 23, 2025: Executive Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
April 1, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/08/2025 01:30 pm LOB 305
March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 11 P. 113
March 20, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
March 12, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/20/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 13
Feb. 26, 2025: Hearing: 03/04/2025, Room 100, SH, 11:00 am; SC 11
Feb. 18, 2025: Hearing: 03/04/2025, Room 100, SH, 11:00 am; SC 11
Jan. 24, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 3