This bill amends existing law to grant municipalities the authority to enforce private covenants while simultaneously prohibiting them and the state government from requiring or encouraging such covenants as a condition for zoning or land use approvals, with a specific exception for workforce housing developments. The new legal language includes the insertion of a subdivision in RSA 674 that outlines the authority of municipalities to adopt ordinances for enforcing private covenants (Section 674:78) and establishes a prohibition against requiring or encouraging covenants for zoning or land use approvals (Section 674:79). Any covenants that are mandated or encouraged by municipal officials under these conditions will be deemed invalid.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the provisions regarding the enforcement of private covenants and the prohibition on requiring covenants do not apply to workforce housing developments, as specified in the new paragraph added to RSA 674:60 (IV-a). This ensures that while municipalities can enforce existing covenants, they cannot impose new ones as a condition for development approvals, except in the case of workforce housing. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 674:60