Build an ADU in Meredith.
New Hampshire's HB 577 lets you add one accessory dwelling unit on your single-family lot in Meredith — by-right. A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf, and ADU setbacks match your lot's single-family setbacks.
9 districts
Each district's single-family setbacks — which your ADU follows. The primary residential district is highlighted.
Verified against the official Meredith zoning ordinance · source · 2026-07-06
- Front
- 30 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 40 ft
- Max coverage
- 30% building
- Min lot
- 20,000 sf (~0.46 ac)
Primary single-family residential district (Art V.D-3). Setbacks/lot vary by utility class and waterfront status: Non-Waterfront Class 3 (on-site well+septic) front 30 / side 20 / rear 40, lot as-per-soils-and-slopes, width 150 ft Non-Waterfront Class 2 (town sewer) front 30…
- Front
- 40 ft
- Side
- 30 ft
- Rear
- 40 ft
- Max coverage
- 25% building
- Min lot
- 435,600 sf (~10.00 ac)
Low-density rural/forestry district; 10-acre minimum lot required (435,600 sf). All-Other-Development (non-shorefront): front 40 / side 30 / rear 40, width 150 ft, max height 45 ft Shorefront lots: front 65 ft from shoreline / side 20 / rear 30, max height 38 ft (waterfront).
- Front
- 40 ft
- Side
- 30 ft
- Rear
- 40 ft
- Max coverage
- 25% building
- Min lot
- 130,680 sf (~3.00 ac)
Rural district; base minimum lot 3 acres (130,680 sf). Class 3 (on-site well+septic) All-Other-Development: front 40 / side 30 / rear 40, lot 3 acres, width 150 ft Class 2 (town sewer) All-Other-Development: front 40 / side 30 / rear 40, min 65,000 sf net density, width 150…
- Front
- 40 ft
- Side
- 30 ft
- Rear
- 40 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 130,680 sf (~3.00 ac)
Coverage not separately listed for Meredith Neck in the ordinance (left null; do not estimate). Unique/historic residential-recreational district (Art V.D-2a); future development on 3 acres or more (130,680 sf).
- Front
- 30 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 40 ft
- Max coverage
- 30% building
- Min lot
- 40,000 sf (~0.92 ac)
Shoreline frontage on Lakes Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Wicwas, Waukewan, Pemigewasset and all islands; extends ~300 ft in depth from shoreline. Non-Waterfront lots (Class 1/2/3): front 30 / side 20 / rear 40, width 150 ft, max height 38 ft; min area per family (net density)…
- Front
- 30 ft
- Side
- 25 ft
- Rear
- 25 ft
- Max coverage
- 75% building
- Min lot
- 43,560 sf (~1.00 ac)
Light-industry/business district along southern Route 104; mostly within Lake Waukewan (public drinking water) watershed. Single Minimum-Standards block for Class 1, 2 & 3 utilities: minimum area required 1 acre (43,560 sf), width 150 ft, min area per dwelling (net density) 1…
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 10 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- 65% building
- Min lot
- 20,000 sf (~0.46 ac)
Route 3 South commercial corridor (Art V.D-6). Setbacks constant across utility classes: front 50 / side 10 / rear 20, width 150 ft, max height 45 ft Minimum area/net density varies by utility class: Class 3 (on-site well+septic) as-per-soils-and-slopes; Class 2 (municipal…
- Front
- 30 ft
- Side
- 10 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- 75% building
- Min lot
- 20,000 sf (~0.46 ac)
Downtown Meredith mixed-use village district; single-family, two-family, and multi-family dwellings and Accessory Apartments permitted. Class 3 (on-site well+septic): front 30 / side 10 / rear 20, area as-per-soils-and-slopes, width 150 ft Class 2 (town sewer): front 30 /…
- Front
- 30 ft
- Side
- 10 ft
- Rear
- 20 ft
- Max coverage
- 65% building
- Min lot
- —
Small historic-village convenience-commercial district at Meredith Center (Art V.D-8); single-family, two-family, and multi-family dwellings and Accessory Apartments permitted. Only one Minimum-Standards block is printed - Class 3 (on-site well + on-site septic): minimum area…
Form-based and downtown districts may use build-to lines instead of fixed setbacks (shown as “—”); verify your parcel's district before you build.
Meredith 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 Meredith (Belknap County). A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf.
In Meredith's RES zone, ADUs follow the single-family setbacks: 30 ft front, 20 ft side, and 40 ft rear. Meredith has 9 zoning districts in total — see the full table below. Confirm your exact zone with the town.