Off-Grid Living in Hollis, New Hampshire

Hollis, New Hampshire is a zoned town, and that's the first thing to get straight if you're eyeing a parcel here for off-grid living. This isn't unzoned rural land where you can do whatever you want; it's carved into residential, commercial, industrial, agriculture/business, and mobile-home/trailer-park districts, each with its own dimensional and use rules under the Hollis Zoning Ordinance (recodified May 20, 2025, per the Town of Hollis).

Zoning and land use. What you can build or do on a given lot depends entirely on which district it falls in, so I'd start by pulling the Hollis Zoning Map before you buy anything. The ordinance also doesn't allow multi-family use in at least some districts, though mixed-use with a commercial component may be permitted. Worth noting: Hollis is actively discussing how a 2025 state law (referred to locally as HB631, dealing with workforce/multi-family housing) might reshape the ordinance at Town Meeting, so the rules could shift.

Tiny homes and RVs. I could not find a specific Hollis ordinance addressing tiny homes or RV dwellings. That doesn't mean it's settled either way, it means you need to ask the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) directly, since they're the body that handles variances and special exceptions under both the town ordinance and state law.

Building permits. The Hollis Building Department, run by a Building Inspector who also serves as Code Enforcement Officer (a role created under state law, RSA 673:1.V), requires permits to be filed in person, not by mail. As of December 31, 2024, new applications go through the current building codes.

Septic and wells. Conventional and alternative septic systems statewide, including in Hollis, are permitted through the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Subsurface Systems Bureau under its Env-Wq 1000 rules. Hollis adds a local wrinkle: lots under 5 acres without subdivision approval generally can't get septic (ISDS) approval unless they meet an exception. Private wells fall under the state's well framework, and I found no added Hollis-specific well restrictions, though new subdivisions with shared water systems trigger extra NHDES review under RSA 485.

Greywater, rainwater, and utility independence. Greywater reuse isn't addressed by a specific Hollis or state rule I could confirm, so treat it as unclear and ask the Building Department directly. Rainwater harvesting looks fine, since I found no local restriction beyond the state-adopted building code Hollis already enforces. As for living fully off the grid without water or sewer hookups, I didn't find an explicit Hollis mandate requiring utility connections, but subdivision and site plan regulations administered by the Planning Department could impose conditions I haven't fully verified, so check with them before assuming you're clear.

Bottom line: Hollis isn't hostile to off-grid living, but it's a real zoned New England town with layered state and local rules, and several pieces (tiny homes, greywater, utility mandates) just aren't spelled out in what I could find. Call ahead before you commit to a parcel or plan.