Off-Grid Living in Barrington, New Hampshire

I've been digging into what off-grid living actually looks like in Barrington, New Hampshire, and the short version is: Barrington is a zoned town, so nothing here is a free-for-all. That said, it's more workable than a lot of nearby towns, mainly because of an unusually clear allowance for recreational vehicles as a primary residence.

Zoning. Barrington has an adopted Zoning Ordinance, most recently amended in March 2026, administered by the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Building/Code Enforcement Department. Land is split into districts (General Residential, Neighborhood Residential, Village, RC, and others), and per the ordinance, a building or lot can only be used for purposes allowed in its district, unless you get a variance or special exception from the ZBA. Generally just one principal structure per developable lot.

Dwellings, tiny homes, and RVs. This is the interesting part. Barrington's ordinance allows a recreational use, including an RV, to serve as a primary residence for up to 180 days per year, as long as sewage disposal and other code requirements are met, according to the town's own FAQ on RV rules. Put two or more RVs on a property and the town treats it as a campground under the ordinance's definitions. There's also a separate section specifically addressing RVs and manufactured housing, plus accessory dwelling unit provisions. Worth noting: a 2025 proposed amendment was floated to expand RV occupancy further "under certain conditions," so this is a live, evolving topic locally, not settled law. Confirm current status with the Building/Code Enforcement office before you commit.

Building permits. The Building/Code Enforcement Department enforces both the town's Zoning Ordinance and New Hampshire's state-adopted Fire, Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Energy, and Accessibility Codes. Any construction gets inspected against those combined standards, so a permit application goes to this office regardless of how "off-grid" the build is meant to be.

Septic. New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) governs septic systems statewide, and the Barrington Conservation Commission confirms NHDES has jurisdiction over septic and construction work near protected shorelines (within 250 feet). If you're using an RV as a primary residence, the town explicitly requires sewage disposal to meet applicable code. No town-specific composting toilet rule turned up in my research, so state DES wastewater rules would be the default to check.

Greywater and rainwater. I couldn't find a Barrington-specific ordinance on either. These likely fall under NHDES's broader wastewater framework and the state-adopted plumbing/residential code the Building Department enforces, but there's no distinct town policy I could confirm.

Wells. Same story, no added town-level well ordinance beyond what's baked into the state-adopted codes the Building Department already enforces.

Utilities. There's no standalone rule saying you must connect to grid utilities. Barrington has no municipal water or sewer system, so private wells and septic are the norm town-wide. But living off-grid still means your structure and sewage disposal have to satisfy the same zoning, building, and NHDES septic requirements as anyone else.

Bottom line: Barrington gives you more legal room than most towns, especially with that 180-day RV allowance, but it's not a loophole for permanent unregulated living. Call the offices below before you buy land or move a trailer onto it.