City planning staff: new state laws will require multiple zoning and code updates

City planning staff briefed the Rochester Planning Board on Aug. 18, 2025, about a group of new state laws passed in July that will affect local zoning and site‑plan regulations, including rules on accessory dwelling units, parking, and where day‑care uses may be allowed.
The planning department said it is reviewing the legislation with the city attorney and attending state‑run information sessions offered by the State Planning Office and the New Hampshire Municipal Association to interpret ambiguous language and identify what the city must change. The staff representative said the laws include several provisions that touch on density, multifamily and mixed‑use definitions, landscaping, parking and stormwater standards.
City staff said they will start bringing proposed ordinance and regulation revisions to workshop meetings for board review and public input before formal council action. “We’re working our way through those,” the staff member said, explaining some items will be cleanup to align local rules with state law while others may require substantive revision to local standards.
Board members asked for advance notice and expressed interest in clarifying local definitions (for example, multifamily, accessory dwelling units and density metrics) and cited recent public questions about RV and camper storage, keeping of chickens, and the use of residential properties for childcare.
No votes were taken; staff said amended zoning and site‑plan regulations will be returned to the board for review and will require council approval for ordinance changes.