CHAPTER 270 SUPERVISION OF NAVIGATION; REGISTRATION OF BOATS AND MOTORS; COMMON CARRIERS BY WATER
Mooring of Boats on Public Waters
Section 270:64
270:64 Moorings Prohibited. –
I. No mooring shall be located:
(a) In such a manner that it constitutes a hazard to the public safety because it interferes with or impedes, or could potentially interfere with or impede, navigation; or
(b) In such proximity to other moorings as to constitute a hazard to public safety; or
(c) In such a manner that it presents an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment, including but not limited to water quality, wildlife habitats, or natural areas; or
(d) In such a manner that it unreasonably interferes with other recreational uses of the water and adjacent land.
II. The director shall develop rules to carry out the purposes of this subdivision pursuant to RSA 270:71 and RSA 541-A.
III. The director shall consult with the fish and game department, the department of environmental services, or the office of planning and development to assist in the assessment required under subparagraph I(c).
[Paragraph IV effective January 1, 2026.]
IV. No person shall use spuds, lifts, or similar devices that are an integral part of a vessel, in lieu of a permitted mooring, on any body of water requiring a mooring permit. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following uses shall be exempt from this section:
(a) Commercial barges engaged in their trade and moored adjacent to shorefront property with the permission of the landowner;
(b) Vessels operated by state, local, or federal agencies; or
(c) Vessels occupied by an operator for stabilization in the water for waterborne activities, including, but not limited to, fishing.
Source. 1987, 324:1. 2004, 257:23, eff. July 1, 2004. 2017, 156:64, eff. July 1, 2017. 2021, 91:198, eff. July 1, 2021. 2025, 50:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.