TITLE XII
PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 155-A
NEW HAMPSHIRE BUILDING CODE

Section 155-A:7

    155-A:7 Enforcement Authority. –

[Paragraph I effective until July 1, 2026; see also paragraph I set out below.]


I. The local enforcement agency appointed pursuant to RSA 674:51 or RSA 47:22 shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of the state building code and the local fire chief shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of the state fire code, provided that where there is no local enforcement agency or contract with a qualified third party pursuant to RSA 155-A:2, VI, the state fire marshal or the state fire marshal's designee may enforce the provisions of the state building code and the state fire code, subject to the review provisions in RSA 155-A:10, upon written request of the municipality.

[Paragraph I effective July 1, 2026; see also paragraph I set out above.]


I. The local enforcement agency appointed pursuant to RSA 155-A:3 shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of the state building code and the local fire chief shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of the state fire code, provided that where there is no local enforcement agency or contract with a qualified third party pursuant to RSA 155-A:2, VI, the state fire marshal or the state fire marshal's designee may enforce the provisions of the state building code and the state fire code, subject to the review provisions in RSA 155-A:10, upon written request of the municipality.
II. Upon the request of a local enforcement agency, state agencies, boards, and commissions may provide advisory services and technical assistance concerning any building or any construction project in the local enforcement agent's jurisdiction.
III. The local enforcement agency appointed to enforce the state building code shall have the authority to inspect all buildings, structures, construction sites, and other places in the jurisdiction. If consent for such inspection is denied or not reasonably obtainable, the local enforcement agency may obtain an administrative inspection warrant under RSA 595-B.
IV. All local enforcement agencies and selectmen and the state fire marshal in those communities without a local enforcement agency shall provide information on the local and state appeals process when issuing a building permit or notice of violation. No fee shall be required to appeal a notice of violation or other decision of a code official.
V. Any notice of violation issued by an enforcement authority as described in paragraph I shall include the relevant section of the state or local building or fire code.

Source. 2002, 8:3. 2012, 225:1, eff. Aug. 14, 2012; 242:14, eff. June 18, 2012. 2019, 48:2, eff. Aug. 4, 2019. 2022, 242:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2023. 2025, 276:8, eff. July 1, 2026.