10 Common HOA Disputes in New Hampshire
& How to Win (2026)

New Hampshire homeowners facing unfair HOA fines should know that under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, the association must provide written notice and 14 days to request a hearing before a fine becomes enforceable. The fine limit in New Hampshire is: Set by CC&Rs — no statutory cap for planned communities. Many New Hampshire HOAs impose fines without following proper notice procedures — making those fines potentially void. Document the violation notice, check whether the fine schedule is recorded in the CC&Rs, and respond within the deadline.

When your New Hampshire HOA collects assessments but fails to maintain common areas — roads, pools, playgrounds, roofs, and landscaping — you have grounds for a breach of fiduciary duty claim. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, the board has a duty to maintain common elements in good condition. New Hampshire homeowners should demand a written maintenance schedule, review the reserve fund balance, and document neglected areas with photographs.

New Hampshire homeowners frequently clash with architectural review committees that deny modification requests without objective criteria. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, the HOA must apply published architectural standards uniformly. Denials must be in writing and reference specific CC&R provisions — not the personal preferences of committee members. If your New Hampshire HOA denied a modification without written reasons, the denial may be challengeable.

Selective enforcement — where the HOA punishes one homeowner while ignoring identical violations by neighbors — is one of the most common and most winnable disputes in New Hampshire. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, enforcement must be consistent and uniform. New Hampshire courts have held that selective enforcement constitutes a violation of the implied covenant of good faith. Document at least 3 neighbors with the same alleged violation using timestamped photographs.

Parking disputes in New Hampshire HOA communities cover a wide range: guest parking limits, RV and boat storage bans, work truck restrictions, and towing from common areas. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, parking restrictions must be in the recorded CC&Rs to be enforceable. Board-adopted "parking policies" that go beyond the recorded covenants may not have legal authority. New Hampshire towing statutes also require proper signage before vehicles can be removed from private property.

Landscaping violations are among the most frequent fine triggers in New Hampshire HOA communities. Common issues include grass height, unapproved plantings, dead trees, and failure to maintain flower beds. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, the HOA must define specific landscaping standards in the CC&Rs and enforce them uniformly. New Hampshire homeowners should note that municipal water conservation orders may preempt HOA greening requirements during drought periods.

New Hampshire homeowners have the right to attend board meetings, review financial records, and participate in governance decisions. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, the board must provide advance notice of meetings and make financial documents available for member inspection. Many New Hampshire HOA boards hold meetings without proper notice, conduct business in executive session when the topic doesn't qualify, or refuse to share financial details — all of which violate homeowner rights.

Board election disputes in New Hampshire HOAs include failure to hold annual elections, proxy manipulation, improper ballot counting, and refusal to seat newly elected members. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, the association must hold annual meetings where board members are elected by the membership. If your board has not held an election as required by the bylaws, members can petition for a special meeting or seek a court order.

Special assessments in New Hampshire HOAs can range from $500 to $20,000+ per unit, typically for major repairs the reserve fund cannot cover. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, the board must follow specific procedures — including proper notice and member voting if the assessment exceeds the declaration's threshold. New Hampshire homeowners can challenge special assessments if the board failed to maintain adequate reserves or didn't follow the proper approval process.

Noise complaints in New Hampshire HOA communities range from barking dogs and loud music to construction hours and commercial vehicle idling. Under New Hampshire Condominium Act — RSA 356-B; Planned Residential Development Act, the HOA must define noise standards in the CC&Rs and enforce them consistently. Vague "nuisance" clauses without specific noise thresholds are difficult to enforce. New Hampshire homeowners should request the specific noise provision being cited and whether the HOA has objective measurement criteria (decibel levels, prohibited hours).