N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 147: § 147:7
Expenses.
Operative Text
The owner or occupant of a building, vessel or enclosure shall be liable to pay the expense of the removal or destruction of the nuisance or other thing, including the fees of the health officers who order or cause the same to be removed; and the same may be recovered by action brought by the health officers in the name of the town.
Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 147:7, when a health officer orders the removal or destruction of a nuisance on or in a building, vessel, or enclosure, the cost of that work — including the health officers' fees — falls on the owner or occupant of the property. Those expenses are not absorbed by the municipality; instead, the law creates a mechanism for the town to recover them through a legal action brought by the health officers on the town's behalf. The provision effectively makes the responsible party financially accountable for the cleanup or abatement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 147:7 should be aware that if a health officer orders abatement of a nuisance on their property, the full cost of that removal or destruction — plus the health officers' fees — can be charged back to them. Compliant operators generally address potential nuisance conditions proactively so that municipal intervention, and the associated cost-recovery action, does not become necessary. When a town does bring a recovery action under this provision, the financial exposure includes both the direct abatement costs and the official fees incurred in ordering or carrying out the work.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 147:7, the financial burden of nuisance removal is placed on the owner or occupant of the affected property, not on the town. Tenants who are occupants of a building where a nuisance is found may want to understand how 'occupant' is defined in their specific circumstances, as the provision could implicate them as well as the property owner. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service can help clarify how this cost-liability framework interacts with any lease obligations or local housing codes that may apply.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 20, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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