Off-Grid Living in Candia, New Hampshire

If you're eyeing a piece of land in Candia, New Hampshire for an off-grid setup, here's what my research turned up, dimension by dimension. Candia is a zoned town, so this isn't a free-for-all like some unincorporated corners of the country. The Town enacted its Zoning Ordinance under the state's enabling statutes (RSA 672-677), and like every zoned NH town, it has a Zoning Board of Adjustment (required by RSA 673:1) for variances and special exceptions.

Zoning and land use: Candia's Planning Board administers the zoning map, which divides the town into residential, mixed-use, and other districts. The Building Inspector enforces it day to day. If you're planning any change or expansion of land use, expect it to run through Site Plan Review. I'd call the Land Use Office before you buy anything.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs: Candia updated its accessory dwelling unit rules in 2024, now allowing a first ADU (including detached units) by right in residential and mixed-use districts, with a second allowed by special exception. That's a town-level rule, not a state mandate, and it's a good option if you want a small secondary structure. What I could not confirm is any specific town policy on tiny-homes-on-wheels or RVs as primary, year-round dwellings. That gap is worth a direct call to the Building Inspector.

Building permits: Required, full stop. Candia's Building Department reviews plans and issues permits, and inspectors want a minimum 48-hour notice before scheduling inspections.

Septic: This one's a two-layer system, which is typical in New Hampshire. At the state level, NH DES's Subsurface Systems Bureau must approve any new, replacement, or expanded septic system before installation. Locally, Candia's Building Department also requires a permit for septic repairs or replacements, though the town inspector doesn't personally observe test pits. I found nothing specific to Candia on composting toilets, so treat that as unconfirmed and ask the Building Inspector directly.

Greywater: Genuinely unclear. I didn't find a Candia ordinance or an NH DES rule addressing residential greywater reuse in my research. Don't assume it's fine, ask before you build a system.

Rainwater harvesting: No Candia-specific rule turned up either. The town enforces the state's adopted building and plumbing codes, which set the baseline for how any harvested water can be used indoors.

Wells: No town well ordinance was found. Well construction in Candia falls under New Hampshire's state Water Well Board rules, the inherited state baseline.

Utility disconnection: I found no explicit Candia ordinance requiring hookup to water or sewer utilities for occupancy. The subdivision regulations do cite groundwater protection under RSA 674:36, but that's about water quality, not a hookup mandate. This is a "not confirmed beyond this" situation, so verify with the Land Use Office if going fully off-grid is your plan.

Bottom line: Candia is workable for off-grid living, but it's a zoned town with real permit requirements for building and septic, and several open questions (RVs as dwellings, greywater, rainwater, forced utility hookups) that only a phone call to town hall will settle.