N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 147: § 147:8
Toilets; Drains.
Operative Text
No person shall occupy, lease to any other person, or permit any other person to occupy, a building or any part of a building as a dwelling house, office, store, shop, theater, public hall, sleeping apartment or tourist cabin, unless such building shall have readily accessible adequate toilet and lavatory facilities, properly ventilated and constructed, and kept in proper sanitary condition; and unless said building shall be provided with suitable drains or sewers for conveying waste water and sewage away from the premises into some public sewer, if there be one within 100 feet thereof, and if not, for conveying it away underground or in some other manner that will not be offensive. The phrase "public sewer", as used in this chapter, shall be understood to mean any sewer constructed and maintained by taxation, or any sewer which is open for general use upon the payment of a rental, license or other fee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, privies (outhouses not conveying sewage by water) may be allowed if such facilities are first approved by the local municipal health officials as to location and construction of the facilities. At the option of the local municipal health officials, further approval may be required by the department of environmental services, prior to the construction of such facilities. Nothing in this section shall prohibit cities, towns, or village districts, by ordinance or by regulation under RSA 147:1, from increasing the 100-foot distance contained in this section, or from granting waivers to the requirement of connection to the public sewer for properties with adequate alternative sewage disposal systems which comply with applicable state and local regulations, designed by a designer licensed in New Hampshire and approved for construction by the New Hampshire department of environmental services after January 1, 1985.
New Hampshire Revised Statutes § 147:8 establishes baseline sanitation requirements for virtually any occupied building, including homes, offices, stores, and lodging. Every such building must have accessible, properly ventilated, and sanitary toilet and lavatory facilities, along with adequate drainage or sewage systems that direct waste away from the property. If a public sewer exists within 100 feet, connection to it is generally required, though local officials may grant waivers for approved alternative systems, and privies may be permitted with municipal health official approval and, in some cases, state environmental review.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 147:8, operators of any residential or commercial building are generally expected to maintain accessible, ventilated, and sanitary toilet and lavatory facilities at all times. Compliant property managers also ensure that waste and sewage are properly conveyed away from the premises—typically through connection to a public sewer if one lies within 100 feet—or through an approved alternative system. Landlords considering privies or alternative sewage disposal should work with local municipal health officials and, where required, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services before constructing such facilities.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 147:8 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes gives occupants a baseline right to accessible, sanitary toilet and lavatory facilities and proper sewage drainage in any building they rent or occupy. If these conditions are not met, tenants may have grounds to raise a violation with local municipal health officials, who have authority over sanitation standards under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services can help occupants understand what remedies may be available when a landlord fails to meet the sanitation requirements set out in § 147:8.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 20, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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