Short-Term Rental Laws in Hanover, New Hampshire

Hanover's 2020 ordinance distinguishes between owner-occupied home-share (permitted broadly in residential zones with primary-residence verification) and non-owner-occupied whole-home STRs (restricted to specific zones — primarily the Downtown D-1/D-2 commercial districts and select multi-family residential zones with additional conditions). The college town demand profile (Dartmouth parents weekend, reunions, graduations, Big Green athletics) drives high seasonal occupancy in a small inventory base, and the town's policy intentionally prioritizes long-term housing for graduate students and faculty over short-term tourism.

Owner-occupied home-share: allowed in Single-Family Residential (SR), General Residential (GR), and Rural Residential (RR) zones with primary-residence test. Non-owner-occupied whole-home STR: limited to Downtown (D-1, D-2), Office and Research (OR), and certain Mixed-Use districts. Standard SR/GR/RR neighborhoods do not permit non-owner-occupied STRs. Confirm zoning before any acquisition — much of Hanover's housing stock is in SR/GR districts.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Hanover Planning & Zoning Department administers permit issuance and renewal. Application requires proof of property insurance, designated 24/7 local contact, life-safety standards, and (for home-share) annual primary-residence re-verification. Operating without a permit: per-day administrative fines + cease-rental order. Code enforcement actively cross-checks platform listings against the permit registry.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Hanover is approximately 8.500% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

New Hampshire Meals & Rentals Tax 8.5% (NH DRA)

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.