Bolthole Index

Cheshire County, New Hampshire

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Keene, New Hampshire

Keene, New Hampshire requires a building permit from the city's Community Development Department for new construction, alterations and demolition1. The city also runs its own zoning through the Land Development Code2. Septic systems are the exception: the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issues those approvals, not the city3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the City of Keene Community Development Department14
Zoning
Yes. Keene's Land Development Code (Chapter 100) governs land use and buildings2
Septic permits
Issued by NH Department of Environmental Services, not the city3
Building code
Current State-adopted building codes, enforced by city staff5
Application
In person, online or by email; fee paid before issuance6
Application fee
$100 base fee under $5,000 total value; $8 per thousand dollars of value over that for residential projects7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Keene Building Safety (Community Development Department)

Review, approval, issuance and inspection of building permits inside Keene city limits

(603) 352-5440

communitydevelopment@keenenh.gov

3 Washington Street, Keene, NH 03431

Online permits →

Zoning

City of Keene Planning & Zoning (Community Development Department)

Zoning administration, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board for Keene

(603) 352-5440

communitydevelopment@keenenh.gov

3 Washington Street, Keene, NH 03431

Online permits →

Septic permits

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Land Resources Management

Septic (subsurface sewage disposal) plan approval, construction approval and operational approval statewide, including inside Keene

(603) 271-3503

29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03302-0095

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Keene means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Keene, NH have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Keene has its own zoning, and the rules sit in the Keene Land Development Code, Chapter 100 of the City Code of Ordinances2. The code became fully effective throughout Keene on September 1, 2021, and the city publishes a zoning map that was last amended in January 20248. Zoning and planning are run by staff in the Community Development Department9.

Dimensional rules depend on the district, so look up your parcel on the zoning map before assuming a setback or lot size. One example we could confirm: accessory dwelling units follow the dimensions of the underlying district, and an ADU may encroach up to 10 feet into the rear lot line where one is permitted10.

We could not confirm Keene's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, minimum lot size, minimum home size or building height. Ask the Community Development Department at (603) 352-5440 before you buy or park anything on a lot9.

Do you need a building permit in Keene, and who issues it?

Yes. Anyone who intends to erect, alter, demolish or change the occupancy of a building, structure or sign in Keene must get a permit from the Community Development Department1. Building staff review, approve, issue and inspect all construction in the city, including structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and floodplain work4.

One-story detached residential accessory structures such as tool sheds and playhouses are exempt only when the floor area is 120 square feet or less1. Construction must follow the current State-adopted building codes5.

The Keene permit rules apply inside city limits. Land outside the city falls under the rules of the neighboring town; for Cheshire County as a whole, see the Cheshire County page.

How do building permits work in Keene: process, fees and timing?

Permit applications can be filed in person at the Community Development Department, online, or by email. The city notifies you once the permit is approved and tells you the fee to pay before it is issued6.

The base application fee is $100 for residential and commercial projects with a total value under $5,0007. For residential projects over $5,000, the fee adds $8 per thousand dollars of value7. Projects larger than 5,000 square feet, or complex projects, may require third-party review6.

New Hampshire law gives the building official 30 days to approve or deny a completed application, or 60 days for nonresidential applications and residential applications with more than 10 dwelling units11. Keene's published sources do not say whether a certificate of occupancy is required, so ask the building office12.

How do septic permits work in Keene, NH?

Septic permits for Keene properties come from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), not the city. The city files the records, but NHDES issues them3. State law requires NHDES approval of plans before anyone builds a structure that discharges sewage or builds a septic system13, and NHDES asks for both an approval for construction and an approval for operation14.

If a public sewer line is within 100 feet of your building, state law requires you to connect to it, and a city may increase that distance by ordinance15. Inside city limits, check with the Community Development Department whether sewer service reaches your lot before planning a septic system.

Private wells in Keene: we could not confirm a local rule. Statewide, the well contractor reports to the NH Water Well Board after completion16.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Keene?

We could not confirm what Keene allows. The city's rules on RV occupancy, temporary camping and tiny homes sit in the Land Development Code, and we were unable to verify them2. New Hampshire's statewide campground rules cover RVs in recreational campgrounds and camping parks, as temporary occupancy rather than permanent year-round residency17; they do not say whether you can live in an RV on your own lot.

Before you buy a lot for an RV or tiny home, call Keene's Community Development Department at (603) 352-5440 and ask which zoning district the lot is in and whether occupancy is allowed there9. Get the answer in writing.

Building a home in Keene: the steps, in order

  1. Find the parcel's zoning district on the city's zoning map and confirm your use is allowed8.
  2. Ask the Community Development Department whether sewer reaches the lot; if not, plan for a septic system9.
  3. If the lot will be divided, know that subdivisions are regulated under the Land Development Code, with application fees of $200 plus $100 per lot18.
  4. Get septic plan approval from NHDES before construction13.
  5. Apply for a building permit from Keene Community Development in person, online or by email6.
  6. Pay the fee when the city notifies you of approval6.
  7. Request inspections during construction; city building staff inspect all construction in Keene4.
  8. Get NHDES operational approval for the septic system before you use it14.

What to check before you buy land in Keene, and what stays with Cheshire County

Keene's city rules cover land inside city limits. Septic stays with the state; floodplain development is covered by the city's building review4. A driveway that connects to a state highway needs a written permit from the New Hampshire commissioner of transportation19. We could not confirm whether Keene requires a separate street access permit for city streets.

Cheshire County's effective property tax rate is 2.3%, with a median bill of $5,968 a year2021. About 11% of the county's soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system outside sewered areas22. For rules on land outside Keene, see the Cheshire County page.

Watch-outs

  • Whether Keene requires a certificate of occupancy is unconfirmed; ask the Community Development Department before you plan a move-in date12.
  • We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption inside Keene; New Hampshire's owner-occupant exemption applies only to the local enforcement mechanism and is not a blanket exemption from the state building code23.
  • A proposed 2026 short-term-rental amendment appeared in city materials; confirm what is in effect with the Community Development Department before you buy for rental income9.

Sources

  1. keenenh.gov (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  2. Land Development Code - City of Keene (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  3. Keene Public Records Online Search (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  4. Building Safety - City of Keene (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Safety - City of Keene (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  6. keenenh.gov (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  7. Community Development Fee Schedule (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  8. Land Development Code - City of Keene (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Keene Planning & Zoning (Community Development Department) (keenenh.gov)
  10. keenenh.gov (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 155-A New Hampshire Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Keene Building Safety (Community Development Department) (keenenh.gov)
  13. RSA 485-A:32 Prior Approval; Permits (New Hampshire statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Land Resources Management (des.nh.gov)
  15. RSA 147:8 Toilets; Drains (New Hampshire statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. RSA 482-B:10 Record of Wells; Monitoring Wells (New Hampshire statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 216-I Recreational Campgrounds and Camping Parks (New Hampshire statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Land Development Code - City of Keene (Keene), quoted and re-checked
  19. RSA 236:13 Driveways and Other Accesses to the Public Way, quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Section 155-A:3 Enforcement mechanism, quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Keene

Keene’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction work for which Keene issues a building permit inside Keene city limits.

    • A permit application may be filed in person, online, or by email.
    • Fee is payable before issuance.
    • One-story detached residential accessory structures used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses are exempt only when floor area does not exceed 120 square feet.

    accessory-structure exemption maximum floor area: <= 120 square feet (One-story detached residential accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses.)

    “Any person who intends to erect a building, structure, or sign; alter an existing building, structure, or sign; or construct or demolish any building, structure, or sign; or change the occupancy of a building or structure, shall obtain a permit from the Community Development Department.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction within Keene city limits.

    • The city page identifies the applicable codes as current State-adopted building codes.
    “These plan reviews and inspections are a necessity to ensure that buildings are constructed and/or renovated following the current State adopted building codes in a safe manner, protecting the property owner and their property.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction within Keene city limits subject to city building review.

    • The city identifies structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, accessibility, energy-efficiency, and floodplain development among covered work.
    “Building staff is responsible for the review, approval, issuance and inspection of all construction within the City of Keene.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land and buildings inside Keene city limits.

    • The LDC became fully effective throughout Keene on September 1, 2021.
    “The Keene Land Development Code (LDC) is Chapter 100 of the City Code of Ordinances and contains most local regulations concerning the use and development of land and buildings.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Keene city limits.

    • The city page links to the zoning map amended January 2024 and describes LDC zoning articles.
    • The LDC was fully effective throughout Keene on September 1, 2021.
    “City of Keene Zoning Map (Amended January, 2024)”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units inside Keene city limits.

    • ADUs use the applicable overlying district's dimensions and siting requirements.
    • An ADU may encroach up to 10 feet from the rear lot line where permitted.

    permitted ADU rear-lot-line encroachment: <= 10 feet (Lots where an ADU is permitted.)

    “An ADU may encroach up to 10-ft from the rear lot line of any lot where an ADU is permitted.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions inside Keene city limits.

    • The LDC assigns subdivision regulation to Article 20 and Section 26.10.
    • Published fee schedule lists subdivision application fees of $200 plus $100 per lot.

    subdivision application fee: 200 USD (Plus $100 per lot.) · additional subdivision application fee: per 100 USD per lot

    “Subdivision (Article 20 & Section 26.10)”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Community Development permits and applications inside Keene city limits.

    • Residential and commercial project fees vary by stated project value.
    • A $50 reinspection fee applies for each inspection of an element of construction after the second rejection.

    base building permit application fee under $5,000 total value: 100 USD · residential project charge over $5,000: per 8 USD per thousand value

    “FOR RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROJECTS WITH A TOTAL VALUE UNDER $5,000.00 Base application fee $100.00. FOR RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROJECTS WITH A TOTAL VALUE OVER $5,000.00 Residential projects cost per thousand value $8.00.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit applications inside Keene city limits.

    • Application may be in person, online, or by email.
    • The applicant is notified after approval and must pay the fee before issuance.
    • For projects larger than 5,000 square feet or complex projects, third-party review may be required by the Community Development Department.

    third-party-review project size trigger: > 5000 square feet (Or any complex project when required by the Community Development Department.)

    “Permits shall be applied for in person at the Community Development Dept., online, or via email. Notification will be sent once your permit has been approved and you will be informed of the fee to be paid prior to issuance.”

Rules another office applies inside Keene

Keene does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Sewage disposal system permits for properties inside Keene city limits.

    • City filing of the records does not make the City the permit issuer.
    “Although these records are filed with the City of Keene, they are issued by the NH Department of Environmental Services”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Keene or Cheshire County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Keene city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Keene city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Keene city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Keene city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside Keene city limits.
13 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Keene publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cheshire County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Cheshire County: county rules, score and offices