Bolthole Index

Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Town of Bedford, New Hampshire

The Town of Bedford, New Hampshire requires a building permit for construction, alteration, relocation or any excavation, issued by the town's building code official1. Bedford adopts and enforces its own zoning in Chapter 275 of the town code2. Septic and well permits come from the town building/health department, and septic designs also need state approval34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the town building code official, including for excavation1
Zoning
Town zoning ordinance (Chapter 275), enforced by the zoning administrator2
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new or altered building is used5
Septic
Town permit first, then state NHDES approval63
Wells
Town permit required before work starts4
Permit fees
Listed in the town building department handbook, not in the code7
Zoning details (RV, tiny home, lot size, setbacks)
Set by Bedford district tables; ask the town zoning administrator8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Bedford Building Code Compliance

Building permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside Bedford town limits

603-472-3838

55 Constitution Drive

Septic permits

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau

State approval of septic designs, for Bedford as for every New Hampshire town

(603) 271-3503

29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03302-0095

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 Town of Bedford means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Bedford, New Hampshire?

Yes. Bedford's town code says no building or structure may be constructed, reconstructed, altered or relocated, and no excavation may start, without a building permit from the town's building code official1. Applications are made on standard forms available at the town offices9.

Before a permit issues, the applicant must show certified verification of all requisite local, state and federal approvals, and wetlands must be flagged by a New Hampshire certified wetlands scientist before construction1. Footings and foundations must be certified by a New Hampshire licensed land surveyor unless the building code official waives it1.

New Hampshire's state building code applies to all construction, and Bedford enforces it through its local process1011. We could not confirm which code editions the town lists or its owner-builder rules; ask the building office.

Who issues building permits in Bedford, and how do you reach them?

The Town of Bedford's Building Code Compliance office at 55 Constitution Drive handles building permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy; call 603-472-383812. The town publishes an inspection policy and a request process on its website12.

Before anyone may use a new or altered building, the building code official must issue a certificate of occupancy, and a plat plan certified by a New Hampshire licensed land surveyor is required unless waived for good cause5. Fee amounts are not in the code; the town building department handbook, available at the town offices, lists them7.

Does Bedford, NH have zoning?

Yes. Bedford administers its own Chapter 275 Zoning ordinance, enforced by the town zoning administrator2. New Hampshire law leaves zoning to municipal government, and counties zone only where they hold unincorporated towns or unorganized places, so Hillsborough County does not set Bedford's rules13.

We could not confirm Bedford's district map, minimum lot sizes, setbacks, minimum home size, or its rules on RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes and accessory dwellings. These sit in the town's zoning use and dimensional tables, so ask the Bedford zoning administrator before you buy or plan a build. New Hampshire sets no single statewide lot size or setback; both depend on the local district8.

How do septic permits work in Bedford, NH?

Septic work inside Bedford needs two approvals. The town requires a permit from the building/health department before any work on a sewage disposal system begins6. New septic designs must also be reviewed and approved by the Bedford health department before state approval3.

The state approval comes from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, which issues an approval for construction and an approval for operation, and you need both before using the system14. Final inspection is required before the system is covered or placed in operation15.

In Hillsborough County, USDA rates about 7% of soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system16. A homeowner building a new domicile may install their own system without an installer's permit if they file a 2-year domicile affidavit, though state plan approval is still required17.

Do you need a well permit in Bedford?

Yes. Bedford requires a permit from the building/health department before any work begins on a private well4. The application must include a scaled diagram of the existing or proposed septic system on that lot and adjacent lots, and a new well must pass bacteria and VOC testing at a New Hampshire certified lab before it goes into service4.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Bedford?

We could not confirm Bedford's rules on long-term RV living, camping on private land or tiny homes. Those answers sit in the town's zoning use table, so ask the Bedford zoning administrator. New Hampshire's statewide campground rule covers RVs at licensed campgrounds, for temporary occupancy only, and does not answer whether you can live in an RV on your own lot18.

Building a home in Bedford: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the zoning administrator which district your lot is in and what it allows.
  2. Have wetlands flagged by a New Hampshire certified wetlands scientist1.
  3. Get the town septic permit and state NHDES approval for the design614.
  4. Get the town well permit4.
  5. Apply for the building permit on the town's standard forms9.
  6. Request inspections through Building Code Compliance at 603-472-383812.
  7. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in5.

What stays with Hillsborough County, and what to check before you buy

Hillsborough County does not issue building permits or set zoning inside Bedford; the town does13. For land outside the town, see the Hillsborough County page.

Before buying, confirm the zoning district, ask whether public sewer is available (we could not confirm Bedford's sewer connection rules), and check floodplain and driveway rules with the town. Statewide, a building within 100 feet of a public sewer must connect to it19. Hillsborough County's effective property tax rate is 1.8%20.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Bedford's zoning tables, so lot size, setbacks, RV, tiny home and accessory dwelling rules need a call to the town zoning administrator at the Bedford Town Offices2.
  • Bedford's 2026 zoning amendments and its building code editions were not reviewed; ask Building Code Compliance for the current versions2.
  • Septic inspection steps and permit fees are in the town building department handbook, which we could not locate; request it at the town offices7.

Sources

  1. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 275 Zoning, Article XI Administration and Enforcement (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 275 Zoning, Article XI Administration and Enforcement (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  3. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 208 Septic Systems and Wells (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  4. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 208 Septic Systems and Wells (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  5. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 275 Zoning, Article XI Administration and Enforcement (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 208 Septic Systems and Wells (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 208 Septic Systems and Wells (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  8. gc.nh.gov (New Hampshire statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 275 Zoning, Article XI Administration and Enforcement (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 155-A New Hampshire Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Bedford NH Code, Chapter 275 Zoning, Article XI Administration and Enforcement (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Bedford Building Code Compliance (bedfordnh.org)
  13. gc.nh.gov, quoted and re-checked
  14. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau (des.nh.gov)
  15. RSA 485-A:29 Submission and Approval of Plans and Specifications (New Hampshire statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. 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
  17. RSA 485-A:36 System Installer Permit, quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 216-I Recreational Campgrounds and Camping Parks (New Hampshire statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. RSA 147:8 Toilets; Drains (New Hampshire statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

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 Town of Bedford

Town of Bedford’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, reconstruction, alteration or relocation of a building or structure, and any excavation, inside Bedford town limits

    • Applicant must provide certified verification of all requisite local, state and federal approvals before the permit issues (§ 275-85 c.(1)).
    • Wetlands must be identified and flagged by a NH certified wetlands scientist before construction (§ 275-85 c.(2)).
    • Footings and foundations must be certified by a NH licensed land surveyor unless the building code official waives it (§ 275-85 d.(2)).
    • Permit applications are made on standard forms available at the town offices (§ 275-85 d.(1)).
    • The building code official may hold a permit where a pending zoning amendment would justify refusal (§ 275-85 e.).
    “no building or structure shall be constructed, reconstructed, altered, or relocated nor shall any excavation be commenced without a duly authorized building permit issued by such building code official.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    New construction and alteration inside Bedford town limits

    • Chapter 275 § 275-85 a. requires structures to follow the most current residential and nonresidential building codes referenced in Chapter 92 § 92-9. The code list itself is in Chapter 92, which was not retrieved, so the specific adopted editions are unverified.
    “all structures shall be constructed in accordance with the most current applicable residential and nonresidential building codes as referenced in chapter 92, § 92-9, of the town of bedford code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use of any building, structure or premises erected, relocated, altered, repaired, converted or extended inside Bedford town limits

    • Before a certificate issues for any building or addition, a plat plan locating all buildings, utilities and easements must be certified by a NH licensed land surveyor (§ 275-86 b.(2)).
    • The building code official may waive the certified plat plan requirement for good cause shown (§ 275-86 b.(2)).
    “no person shall use or permit the use of any building, structure, or premises or part thereof hereafter erected, relocated, altered, repaired, converted, or extended until a certificate of occupancy is issued by the building code official.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Bedford town limits; the town administers its own Chapter 275 Zoning ordinance

    • Confirmed only that Chapter 275 Zoning is the town's adopted zoning ordinance and that the town zoning administrator enforces it. The district text, use table and dimensional table were not retrieved.
    • The eCode360 index says the code includes legislation through 03-11-2025; the Article XI page lists 2026-03-10 zoning amendments that were not reviewed.
    “this chapter shall be administered by the zoning administrator who shall have the authority to make inspections necessary to carry out his/her duties in the enforcement of this chapter.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Subsurface sewage disposal systems on land inside Bedford town limits

    • State NH DES Subsurface Bureau design rules (env-wq 1000) govern design and construction, per Chapter 208 § 208-9 a.
    • The Bedford board of health or its designated agent, which Chapter 208 names as the town, reviews and approves all new septic designs before state approval (§ 208-9 b.), and issues local permits (§ 208-6 a.).
    • Chapter 208 § 208-10 adds local construction rules (filter fabric, in-kind replacement, tank replacement, failed-system timelines).
    “all new septic designs must be reviewed and approved by the bedford health department prior to receiving state approval.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation or alteration of a sewage disposal system inside Bedford town limits

    • Permit issued by the building/health department before any work starts on the system (§ 208-6 a.).
    • Tank replacement requires a sketch of the property, house, tank site and property lines before the local permit issues (§ 208-10 c.(2)).
    • Fee information is in the Bedford building department handbook (§ 208-6 b.).
    “a permit for the installation and/or alteration of a sewage disposal system must be obtained from the building/health department prior to the commencement of any work on a system.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Installation or alteration of a private well inside Bedford town limits

    • A scaled diagram showing the existing or proposed subsurface disposal system on that and adjacent lots must accompany the application (§ 208-11 b.(1)).
    • Well location must keep the protective radius off the property line on new lots (§ 208-11 c.(1)).
    • Bacteria and a VOC screen and other parameters must be tested by a NH certified lab before a new well is placed in service (§ 208-11 c.(2)).
    “a permit for the installation and/or alterations of wells must be obtained from the building/health department prior to the commencement of any work on a well.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building and septic and well permit fees for work inside Bedford town limits

    • The fee amounts are not in the code. Chapter 208 says the fee information is in the Bedford building department handbook, which is available at the town offices; the handbook was not retrieved, so no amounts are recorded.
    “information regarding permit fees is available in the bedford building department handbook, which is available at the town offices.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit application process inside Bedford town limits

    • Application is made on standard forms from the building code official at the town offices during normal business hours (§ 275-85 d.(1)).
    • Only the application step is quoted; review, approvals, and inspection steps were not retrieved from the building handbook or Chapter 92.
    “application for a building permit shall be made on standard forms provided by the building code official which are available at the town offices during normal business hours.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Bedford or Hillsborough County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Bedford town limits
  • Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Bedford town limits
  • Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list inside Bedford town limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for the main single-family residential district inside Bedford town limits
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the main single-family residential district (General Residential) inside Bedford town limits
16 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Town of Bedford publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Hillsborough County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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