TITLE XVII
HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER 205-C
MODULAR BUILDING STANDARDS

Section 205-C:1

    205-C:1 Definitions. –
In this chapter:
I. "Approved third party inspection agency" means an entity or organization, public or private, determined by the department to be qualified by reason of facilities, personnel, experience, and demonstrated reliability and independence of judgment, to evaluate and certify building manufacturers and factory assembled modular construction.
II. "Modular building code" means the state building code as defined in and adopted in RSA 155-A.
III. "Building component" means any system, subsystem, or subassembly of closed construction designed for use in or as part of a modular building, which may include structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection systems and other systems affecting health and safety.
IV. "Certification" means the process by which modular building manufacturers or modular construction has been evaluated to ensure conformity with the state modular construction standard and applicable rules of the department.
V. "Closed construction" means a method of manufacturing in which parts or processes are concealed and cannot be inspected at the building site without disassembly, damage, or destruction.
V-a. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of safety.
VI. "Department" means the department of safety.
VII. "Installation" means the assembly of modular buildings on site and the process of affixing modular buildings or building components to land, a foundation, footings, utilities, or an existing building.
VIII. "Label" means the approved insignia or seal including the name of the approved third party inspection agency that shall be affixed to a modular building or building component certified in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
IX. "Local enforcement agency" means the agency or agencies of local government with authority to make inspections and to enforce the laws, ordinances and rules enacted by the state and by local government that establish standards and requirements applicable to the construction, alteration, or repair of buildings.
X. "Manufacturing facilities" means the place at which machinery, equipment and other capital goods are assembled and operated for the purpose of making, fabricating, constructing, forming or assembling modular buildings.

[Paragraph XI effective until September 13, 2026; see also paragraph XI set out below.]


XI. "Modular building" means any building of closed construction, which is made or assembled in manufacturing facilities off the building site, for installation, or assembly and installation, on the building site. This definition shall not be construed to include any structure labeled in accordance with the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, nor shall it include single-wide structures under 750 square feet, provided that they are not for residential or classroom use, nor shall it include any recreational vehicle or park trailer as defined in American National Standards Institute A119.2, Standard for Recreational Vehicles, or A119.5, Standard for Park Trailers, or any building type not subject to the requirements of nationally recognized model building codes.

[Paragraph XI effective September 13, 2026; see also paragraph XI set out above.]


XI. "Modular building" means any building of closed construction, which is made or assembled in manufacturing facilities off the building site, for installation, or assembly and installation, on the building site. This definition shall not be construed to include any structure labeled in accordance with the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, nor shall it include single-wide structures under 750 square feet, provided that they are not for classroom use, nor shall it include an innovative housing structure pursuant to RSA 674:82 unless the modular program is chosen by the applicant, nor shall it include any recreational vehicle or park trailer as defined in American National Standards Institute A119.2, Standard for Recreational Vehicles, or A119.5, Standard for Park Trailers, or any building type not subject to the requirements of nationally recognized model building codes.
XII. [Repealed.]
XIII. "Person" means any individual or organized group of any kind, including partnerships, corporations and other forms of association, as well as federal, state or local instrumentalities, political subdivisions, or officers.

Source. 1990, 169:2. 1997, 44:2-4. 2002, 8:5, 12, I; 270:2. 2007, 108:1, eff. Aug. 10, 2007. 2011, 197:4, eff. June 14, 2011. 2026, 330:5, eff. Sept. 13, 2026.