New Hampshire is different from most states, and the difference matters before anything else: there is no comprehensive statute governing planned-community HOAs. What New Hampshire has is a Condominium Act, RSA 356-B, and it applies only to condominiums:
"This chapter shall apply to all condominiums and to all condominium projects." — RSA 356-B:2, I
If you live in a condominium, RSA 356-B generally gives you a set of statutory rights, though older condominiums can be an exception. The same section says the Act supersedes RSA 479-A, the older Unit Ownership of Real Property Act, but that "except as set forth in paragraphs II and III," it is not to "be deemed to apply to any real estate, or any interest therein, submitted to the provisions of RSA 479-A prior to September 10, 1977" (RSA 356-B:2). The recorded declaration shows which statute a condominium was created under. If you live in a non-condominium HOA (a subdivision with covenants), your rights come mainly from your declaration and bylaws, New Hampshire's nonprofit corporation law (RSA 292) and general contract and property law, plus federal law such as the Fair Housing Act. One section of RSA 292, RSA 292:8-m (added in 2023), applies specifically to homeowners' associations established under that chapter: today it requires a 2/3 majority to amend bylaws, budgets, and any contracted property management service once a single person acquires more than 50 percent of the votes after developer control ends, and a planning-board hearing before the association can be dissolved. Paragraphs on records, executive sessions, and conflict-of-interest contracts, added by 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 306, take effect January 1, 2027. Knowing which bucket you are in changes everything — see Condo vs. HOA in New Hampshire: Which Law Applies to You?. Because so much turns on that distinction and on your community's own documents, a licensed New Hampshire attorney is the right resource for how the law applies to your situation.
Fines and penalties
New Hampshire's Condominium Act does not set a statutory dollar cap on fines, and there is no general HOA fining statute. Whether an association can fine you, and how much, turns on your declaration and bylaws — and on the association following its own documents and acting in good faith. See Fighting an Association Fine in New Hampshire.
Financial records (§ 356-B:37-e)
For condominiums, the Act gives owners timely access to financial information:
"Each unit owner shall have access to all financial information within 15 days of the unit owner's request" — RSA 356-B:37-e, II
For homeowners' associations established under RSA 292, a statutory records right takes effect January 1, 2027 (2026 N.H. Laws ch. 306, adding RSA 292:8-m, III). From that date, retained records are available for examination and copying:
"Upon 15 days' notice in a record reasonably identifying the specific records of the association requested." — RSA 292:8-m, III(b)(2)
Until then, RSA 292 sets no member-records deadline, and record access in a non-condo HOA turns on the governing documents.
See Getting Association Financial Records in New Hampshire.
The assessment lien (§ 356-B:46)
Unpaid common-expense assessments can become a lien on a condominium unit:
"The unit owners' association shall have a lien on every condominium unit for unpaid assessments levied against that condominium unit" — RSA 356-B:46, I(a)
The Act requires a memorandum of lien to be recorded within six months and sets time limits and fee-shifting for enforcement. See Can a New Hampshire Association Lien or Foreclose Over Unpaid Dues?.
Meetings (§ 356-B:37 and following)
For condominiums, RSA 356-B addresses meetings, notice to unit owners, board and committee meetings, and executive session. See Your Right to Attend Association Meetings in New Hampshire.
Solar
Unlike many states, New Hampshire has not enacted a statute that bars a homeowners' association — or a restrictive covenant — from prohibiting or limiting rooftop solar. Bills that would have made anti-solar covenants "void and unenforceable" (proposed as a new RSA 477:22-b in HB 1535 of 2020 and HB 1380 of 2022) did not become law; no such provision appears in the enacted statutes, and RSA 477:22-b was later assigned to an unrelated foreign-ownership law. New Hampshire's enacted solar real-property statute, RSA 477:49 to 477:51, creates voluntary "solar skyspace easements" that protect a system's access to sunlight — it does not override an association's authority over solar installations. So in a New Hampshire community, whether you can install rooftop solar generally turns on your declaration and bylaws, which makes a licensed New Hampshire attorney the right resource for your specific documents.
Enforcing your rights (§ 356-B:15)
The Act makes compliance enforceable in court, with fees for the prevailing party:
"Any lack of such compliance shall be grounds for an action or suit to recover sums due, for damages or injunctive relief, or for any other remedy available at law or in equity." — RSA 356-B:15, I
See Enforcing Your Rights Against an Association in New Hampshire.
Frequently asked questions
Does RSA 356-B cover my HOA?
Only if you live in a condominium, and condominiums submitted to the older RSA 479-A before September 10, 1977 are largely outside it (RSA 356-B:2). Non-condominium HOAs are governed mainly by their covenants and bylaws, RSA 292, and general law.
Is there a cap on HOA fines in New Hampshire?
No statutory cap exists. Fine authority comes from the association's governing documents.
How fast must a condo association share financial records?
Within 15 days of a unit owner's request, under RSA 356-B:37-e.
Sources
- RSA 356-B — New Hampshire Condominium Act (full chapter)
- RSA 356-B:2 — Application
- RSA 479-A — Unit Ownership of Real Property (table of contents)
- RSA 356-B:15 — Compliance with chapter and condominium instruments
- RSA 356-B:37-e — Disclosure of Financial Information and Meeting Minutes to Unit Owners
- RSA 356-B:46 — Lien for Assessments
- RSA 292:8-m — Homeowners' Associations (paragraphs III–V effective January 1, 2027)
- 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 306 (HB 1523) — chaptered text
- RSA 477:49–477:51 — Solar Skyspace Easements (NH's enacted solar real-property law)