Off-Grid Living in Peterborough, New Hampshire

I've been digging through Peterborough, New Hampshire's town code and state regulations to figure out what off-grid living actually looks like here, and the short answer is: it's zoned, it's regulated, and you'll need to work with both the Town and the State of New Hampshire to do this legally.

Zoning. Peterborough is a zoned town, governed by its Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 245), adopted by Town Vote. There are multiple districts, including a Rural District, Family District, and General Residence District, each with different lot-size and dimensional standards. The Family District, for example, requires a minimum lot size for one or two dwelling units plus additional square footage per extra unit. If any part of the ordinance conflicts with another rule, state law (RSA 676:14) says the more restrictive provision wins. The town is also actively revising some lot-size and density rules in its Traditional Neighborhood Overlay Zone, so double-check current numbers with Planning & Building rather than relying on anything printed here.

Tiny homes and RVs. I could not confirm specific town rules for tiny houses on wheels or RVs used as full-time dwellings. Manufactured housing parks are addressed separately, under Subdivision Regulations and a Manufactured Housing Parks ordinance, and those parks are required to connect to town water and town sewer. If you're considering a tiny home or RV outside a park, call Planning & Building before you commit.

Building permits. Peterborough enforces the New Hampshire State Building Code (RSA 155-A) through its own Building Inspector, per RSA 674:51. State law gives the inspector up to 30 days to approve or deny a standard permit application, though the town's practical turnaround is running longer. You'll need a building permit for new construction, and the site plan has to show your septic system, well, and structure placement.

Septic and composting toilets. Any new, replaced, or expanded septic system needs written approval from the NH DES Subsurface Systems Bureau, a state agency, and the town also wants confirmation of local compliance before signing off on a building permit. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed in the town code I found, so I'd treat that as unresolved and ask the Building Inspector directly.

Greywater and rainwater. I found no Peterborough-specific ordinance on either topic. That doesn't mean anything goes, it means the baseline is whatever New Hampshire's state plumbing and building codes require, and you should ask the town to be sure nothing local applies.

Wells. Well construction is governed by the state (NH Water Well Board), not town ordinance, though your building permit site plan needs to show the well's location relative to your septic and property lines.

Off-grid utilities. Outside of designated areas like manufactured housing parks (which require town water and sewer), a private well and a state-approved septic system generally substitute for utility hookups in the Rural District and elsewhere. I did not find a blanket town-wide ban on off-grid living, but zoning district rules and any subdivision conditions can still constrain you.

Bottom line: Peterborough allows a self-sufficient setup in principle, but every piece, from lot size to septic to well siting, runs through both town and state review.