Accessory Dwelling Unit and Garden Cottage Application Instructions

This application shall be used for an application for an Accessory Dwelling Unit or Garden Cottage, which are described in the following sections of the Zoning Ordinance:

  • Section 10.814 – Accessory Dwelling Units
  • Section 10.815 – Garden Cottages

1.   A complete application including the online land use application form, the required application fee, and one (1) original copy of all supporting documents, plans, and exhibits must be received by the Planning Department prior to the published deadline.

2.   View Point Cloud is the software that powers the City of Portsmouth's online application center. In order to complete an online land use application, you must create an account for the site. When you register for the first time, you’ll need to access your email account in order to activate your View Point account.

3.   The person completing the online application should be the primary point of contact for the project and must provide authorization from the property owner.  All automatic notifications from View Point on the application’s status, approvals, and staff comments will be sent to this person’s email address.  Only this person can add additional information to the application once it’s been submitted.

4.   If the project will need multiple land use approvals from different boards, a single online land use application record should be used for all of the approvals.  It is recommended that the applicant confer with Planning Department staff about project contacts for multiple land use approvals prior to submitting the application.

5.   Submission deadlines are available from the Planning Department and online -- www.cityofportsmouth.com/planportsmouth/land-use-applications-forms-and-fees (meeting schedule).

6. The Planning Department reserves the right to refuse applications which do not meet the minimum requirements.  The Planning Department may also require additional information and/or exhibits as needed to illustrate the scope of the project. 

7.   It is the obligation of the applicant to submit adequate plans and exhibits to demonstrate compliance with Sections 10.814 & 10.815 of the Zoning Ordinance.  At a minimum, the following information shall be provided:

  • Scaled Site Plan(s) showing existing and proposed conditions including:
    • Scale legend, title, address of project, date, source of displayed data
    • Front, side and rear setback / yard dimensions (this is the distance from a building to the lot line) and distance between buildings
    • Lot dimensions
    • Abutting street(s) and street names
    • Location and dimensions of driveways / access ways
    • Dimensions (size and height) of buildings
    • Dimensions, number, and location of parking spaces both existing and proposed
    • Location and description of open space and landscaping
  • Labeled photo(s) of existing structures/buildings on property.
  • Labeled photo(s) of adjacent properties.
  • Scaled interior floor plans of the proposed dwelling unit including total gross floor area and total number of bedrooms.
  • Scaled building plans and elevations of any proposed new construction or renovations of existing buildings including any proposed exterior lighting.
  • A detailed statement explaining how the proposed project will support the following findings:
    • The principal and accessory dwelling units will remain under common ownership (including by condominium ownership).
    • The principal or accessory dwelling shall be occupied by the owner of the dwelling as his/her principal place of residence.  The owner shall provide documentation demonstrating to the satisfaction of the City that one of the units is his/her principal place of residence.
    • Neither the principal nor accessory dwelling shall be used for any business, except that the owner may have a home occupation use in the unit that he or she occupies.
  • Where municipal sewer service is not provided, the septic system shall meet NH Water Supply & Pollution Control Division requirements for the demand for total occupancy of the premises.
  • The accessory dwelling will not result in excessive noise, traffic, or parking congestion.
  • If applicable, a detailed explanation for any requests to the Planning Board to modify a specific dimension and/or parking standard

The Applicant is encouraged to consider the following when completing the application:

  • Provide neat and clearly legible plans and copies
  • Use of color or highlights is encouraged in order to identify pertinent areas on plans
  • Applicants are encouraged to review the application with a member of the Planning Department staff prior to submittal
  • All applicants are encouraged to discuss the project with impacted neighbors

For additional information on application requirements and the conditional use permit approval process, please refer to the City of Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance and the Planning Board Rules and Regulations or contact the Planning Department directly at (603) 610-7216.