MANCHESTER, NH – For the fourth time in its history, the City of Manchester has a new zoning ordinance.
During their Dec. 16, 2025 meeting, the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the new zoning ordinance, marking the first such update since 2001 and its third rewrite since the original zoning ordinance was released in 1927. The process of updating the ordinance began in 2021 as development of the city’s new master plan revealed that a new version of the zoning ordinance was needed to meet Manchester’s evolving needs.
After years of preparation, the first draft was finally released in the summer of 2024. In addition to updating zoning code toward something that reflected the changed reality of Manchester since the ordinance’s last update, the proposed code was also much more streamlined and provided pictures to create something more accessible to the average resident. They also attempted to encourage the construction of missing middle housing in areas where the city’s urban core transitions toward its single-family focused periphery through reduced minimum lot sizes.
After that kickoff, representatives of the Manchester Planning and Community Development Department held meetings throughout the city to solicit ideas on the next draft of the ordinance as well as sharing how the new ordinance as of that point compared to the old ordinance. Online efforts were made with the UNH Survey Center as well to garner 1,500 additional responses from members of the public.
Information gathered from the meetings and online surveys led to a release of a second draft and the creation of a steering committee that took the second draft and transformed it into a final draft ready for public review in November.
Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said that the effort was one of the most important steps the city could take to drive down the cost of housing.
“By modernizing our land use code, we are unlocking new opportunities for housing, promoting responsible growth, and making it easier for residents and businesses to invest in our city,” said Ruais.
Jeff Belanger, director of the Manchester Planning and Community Development Department, said that this rewrite was the most comprehensive public engagement ever done in the city for a zoning ordinance.
“From the beginning, our goal has always been to understand what the people of Manchester want for the future of their city and to deliver that to them,” he said. “I want to thank everyone who participated in the public engagement, whether they came to a community meeting, or filled out a survey, or submitted a comment. We heard you, the rewrite is a reflection of what you said, and this process could not have succeeded without you.”
Following lingering concerns from some Aldermen and members of the community earlier in the evening, Belanger noted that this ordinance is a “living document” and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen have the authority to call public hearings for amending parts of the code as they so deem fit, followed by possible modifications later on as needed.
The ordinance passed in an 11-2-1 vote of the board. Ward 6 Alderman Crissy Kantor and Ward 8 Alderman Ed Sapienza voted in opposition while At-Large Alderman Joseph Levasseur abstained from voting.
More information on the ordinance can be found on the Planning and Community Development’s portion of the city website.
The new ordinance will come into effect on March 1, 2026.