Build an ADU in Hancock.
New Hampshire's HB 577 lets you add one accessory dwelling unit on your single-family lot in Hancock — by-right. A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf, and ADU setbacks match your lot's single-family setbacks.
4 districts
Each district's single-family setbacks — which your ADU follows. The primary residential district is highlighted.
Verified against the official Hancock zoning ordinance · source · 2026-07-07
- Front
- 35 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 40,000 sf (~0.92 ac)
Village-edge residential district (bands ~500 ft off the centerlines of listed roads around the village, Sec 4.3.1); single-family and two-family dwellings permitted by right (5.2.1). FRONT SETBACK IS MEASURED FROM THE NEAREST EDGE OF THE ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY, and new…
- Front
- 25 ft
- Side
- 10 ft
- Rear
- 10 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 20,000 sf (~0.46 ac)
Village mixed-use district (specific Tax Map U4 parcels, Sec 4.3.2); single-family and two-family dwellings permitted by right (6.2.1); multifamily, inns, restaurants, retail, offices by Planning Board conditional use permit (6.2.3).
- Front
- 25 ft
- Side
- 10 ft
- Rear
- 10 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 20,000 sf (~0.46 ac)
Village mixed-use district (specific Tax Map U4/U3 parcels, Sec 4.3.3); identical dimensional standards to VC-W (Article 6 governs both). Front setback 25 ft from the nearest edge of the road right-of-way (6.3.2); side and rear 10 ft (6.3.3).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 30 ft
- Rear
- 30 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 174,240 sf (~4.00 ac)
Default district: comprises all of Hancock outside the R, VC-W and VC-E districts (Sec 4.3.4), so most Hancock lots are RA. Min lot 4 acres (174,240 sf) (7.3.1); min continuous road frontage 350 ft (7.3.2).
Form-based and downtown districts may use build-to lines instead of fixed setbacks (shown as “—”); verify your parcel's district before you build.
Hancock 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 Hancock (Hillsborough County). A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf.
In Hancock's R zone, ADUs follow the single-family setbacks: 35 ft front, 20 ft side, and 20 ft rear. Hancock has 4 zoning districts in total — see the full table below. Confirm your exact zone with the town.