Build an ADU in Canterbury.
New Hampshire's HB 577 lets you add one accessory dwelling unit on your single-family lot in Canterbury — by-right. A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf, and ADU setbacks match your lot's single-family setbacks.
8 districts
Each district's single-family setbacks — which your ADU follows. The primary residential district is highlighted.
Verified against the official Canterbury zoning ordinance · source · 2026-07-06
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 87,120 sf (~2.00 ac)
PRIMARY single-family residential district ('areas suitable for development served by continuous paved roads'). Min lot 2 acres (87,120 sf), min lot depth 200 ft, min lot width 300 ft (Art 5.2 table). Residential frontage 300 ft (Art 5.2.E.1).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 217,800 sf (~5.00 ac)
Agriculture/conservation district (steep slopes, severe soils; open space, farming, forestry). Min lot 5 acres (217,800 sf), min lot depth 300 ft, min lot width 300 ft (Art 5.2 table). Residential frontage 300 ft Same water/septic/wetland setbacks as townwide.
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 130,680 sf (~3.00 ac)
Rural district (areas served primarily by gravel roads; least-intensive development to preserve community character). Min lot 3 acres (130,680 sf), min lot depth 250 ft, min lot width 300 ft (Art 5.2 table).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 43,560 sf (~1.00 ac)
Commercial district. Min lot 1 acre (43,560 sf), min lot depth 150 ft, min lot width 200 ft (Art 5.2 table). Commercial/industrial frontage 200 ft (Art 5.2.E).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 87,120 sf (~2.00 ac)
Industrial district (concentrates industrial growth near major transportation corridors). Min lot 2 acres (87,120 sf), min lot depth 150 ft, min lot width 200 ft (Art 5.2 table). Commercial/industrial frontage 200 ft (Art 5.2.E).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 435,600 sf (~10.00 ac)
Natural Resource district (areas of high natural-resource value conserved with special consideration of use impact). Min lot 10 acres (435,600 sf) - the largest minimum in town, min lot depth 300 ft, min lot width 300 ft (Art 5.2 table).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 87,120 sf (~2.00 ac)
Center Historic District (areas of cultural, aesthetic, or historic value). Min lot 2 acres (87,120 sf), min lot depth 200 ft, min lot width 300 ft (Art 5.2 table, 'Center Hist'). Residential frontage 300 ft.
- Front
- 75 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- 50% building
- Min lot
- —
Shaker Village Museum Preservation District - special single-owner, non-subdividable district under a 1992 State Conservation & Preservation Easement; the general single-principal-use, separate-lot, and road-frontage rules do NOT apply (Art 5.4.C.1).
Form-based and downtown districts may use build-to lines instead of fixed setbacks (shown as “—”); verify your parcel's district before you build.
Canterbury ADU FAQ
Yes. Under NH RSA 674:71-73 (HB 577), one accessory dwelling unit is allowed by-right on single-family lots statewide, including Canterbury (Merrimack County). A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf.
In Canterbury's R zone, ADUs follow the single-family setbacks: 50 ft front, 20 ft side, and 20 ft rear. Canterbury has 8 zoning districts in total — see the full table below. Confirm your exact zone with the town.