Build an ADU in Plaistow.
New Hampshire's HB 577 lets you add one accessory dwelling unit on your single-family lot in Plaistow — by-right. A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf, and ADU setbacks match your lot's single-family setbacks.
12 districts
Each district's single-family setbacks — which your ADU follows. The primary residential district is highlighted.
Verified against the official Plaistow zoning ordinance · source · 2026-07-06
- Front
- 35 ft
- Side
- 15 ft
- Rear
- 15 ft
- Max coverage
- 20% lot
- Min lot
- 40,000 sf (~0.92 ac)
PRIMARY single-family residential district (Table 220-32E). Areas and dimensions (220-32E.C): minimum lot area 40,000 sf; minimum frontage 150 ft (duplex 200 ft); minimum area per family 40,000 sf; max lot coverage 20%; max height 45 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less.
- Front
- 35 ft
- Side
- 25 ft
- Rear
- 25 ft
- Max coverage
- 20% lot
- Min lot
- 110,000 sf (~2.53 ac)
Table 220-32F. Areas and dimensions (220-32F.C): minimum lot area 110,000 sf; minimum frontage 200 ft; minimum area per family 110,000 sf; max lot coverage 20%; max height 45 ft or 3 stories. ADU permitted (owner-occupied only, not in multifamily) per Article VIII.
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 25 ft
- Rear
- 25 ft
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- 217,800 sf (~5.00 ac)
Table 220-32H. Water-source protection district (Kelly Brook watershed within the 202-ft contour plus a 300-ft protective buffer). Uses limited to single-family residence, forestry, agriculture, accessory use/structure, and ADU (owner-occupied only).
- Front
- —
- Side
- —
- Rear
- —
- Max coverage
- —
- Min lot
- —
Table 220-32J. 220-32J.C: 'For new developments — See PRD Requirements except the 10-acre minimum does not apply.' 220-32J.D: 'For existing lots of record with dwelling units — See MDR requirements' (i.e., an existing developed RC2 lot uses MDR numbers: front 35, side/rear…
- Front
- 30 ft
- Side
- 15 ft
- Rear
- 15 ft
- Max coverage
- 30% lot
- Min lot
- 40,000 sf (~0.92 ac)
Table 220-32D (added 3-13-2007). Areas and dimensions (220-32D.C): minimum lot area 40,000 sf (per family); minimum frontage 150 ft (duplex 200 ft); max lot coverage 30%; max height 45 ft or 3 stories.
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 25 ft
- Rear
- 25 ft
- Max coverage
- 20% lot
- Min lot
- 110,000 sf (~2.53 ac)
Table 220-32G. Areas and dimensions (220-32G.C): minimum lot area (per family) 110,000 sf (all uses); minimum frontage 200 ft (all uses); max lot coverage 20% for RESIDENTIAL use (50% for commercial/industrial-only, 50% for combined use); max footprint for…
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 35 ft
- Rear
- 35 ft
- Max coverage
- 75% lot
- Min lot
- 80,000 sf (~1.84 ac)
Table 220-32B. Areas and dimensions (220-32B.C): minimum lot area 80,000 sf; minimum frontage 150 ft; max lot coverage 75%; max height 45 ft or 3 stories. FRONT setback is TIERED (Table 220-32I.A): base C1 lots 50 ft from the front property line, BUT 80 ft where lot size >…
- Front
- 30 ft
- Side
- 15 ft
- Rear
- 15 ft
- Max coverage
- 30% lot
- Min lot
- 40,000 sf (~0.92 ac)
Table 220-32C. Areas and dimensions (220-32C.C): minimum lot area 40,000 sf (per family); minimum frontage 150 ft (duplex 200 ft); max lot coverage 30%; max height 45 ft or 3 stories. Permitted uses include single-family residence/duplex, multifamily, mixed…
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 35 ft
- Rear
- 35 ft
- Max coverage
- 75% lot
- Min lot
- 80,000 sf (~1.84 ac)
Table 220-32M (added 3-09-21). Areas and dimensions (220-32M.C): minimum lot area 80,000 sf; minimum frontage 150 ft; max lot coverage 75%; max height 45 ft or 3 stories; max single-business building 20,000 sf, multi-business building 60,000 sf; trips capped at 3,000/day/lot.
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- —
- Rear
- —
- Max coverage
- 75% lot
- Min lot
- 420,000 sf (~9.64 ac)
Table 220-32L (added 3-09-21). OPTIONAL overlay on C1 land; when not elected, all underlying C1 regulations/setbacks/lot-sizing apply. Areas and dimensions (220-32L.C): minimum lot area 420,000 sf; minimum frontage 150 ft (measured along Rt.
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 35 ft
- Rear
- 35 ft
- Max coverage
- 75% lot
- Min lot
- 80,000 sf (~1.84 ac)
Table 220-32A. Areas and dimensions (220-32A.C): minimum lot area 80,000 sf; minimum frontage 150 ft; max lot coverage 75%; max height 45 ft or 3 stories; minimum building setback 50 ft from the front property line (220-32A.C.5).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 35 ft
- Rear
- 35 ft
- Max coverage
- 60% lot
- Min lot
- 80,000 sf (~1.84 ac)
Table 220-32K (added 3-10-09). Areas and dimensions (220-32K.C): minimum lot area 80,000 sf; minimum frontage 150 ft; max lot coverage 60% (amended 3-14-23 by Art Z-23-4); max height 45 ft or 3 stories; total building floor area 125,000 sf.
Form-based and downtown districts may use build-to lines instead of fixed setbacks (shown as “—”); verify your parcel's district before you build.
Plaistow 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 Plaistow (Rockingham County). A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf.
In Plaistow's MDR zone, ADUs follow the single-family setbacks: 35 ft front, 15 ft side, and 15 ft rear. Plaistow has 12 zoning districts in total — see the full table below. Confirm your exact zone with the town.