N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 354-A: § 354-A:18
Exemption for Religious Organizations.
Operative Text
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to bar any religious or denominational institution or organization, or any organization operated for charitable or educational purposes, which is operated, supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization, from limiting admission to or giving preference to persons of the same religion or denomination or from making such selection as is calculated by such organization to promote the religious principles for which it is established or maintained.
Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 354-A:18, New Hampshire's anti-discrimination law carves out a specific exemption for religious and religiously affiliated organizations. Such organizations—including those operated for charitable or educational purposes under religious supervision—are permitted to give preference to members of their own religion or denomination when making housing or admission decisions. The exemption is limited to selections that further the religious principles for which the organization was established or maintained.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers who operate under the umbrella of a qualifying religious or denominational organization may, under § 354-A:18, lawfully apply religion-based preference criteria in tenant selection, provided the organization genuinely meets the statutory definition. Compliant operators typically document the religious mission and governance structure of their organization to demonstrate that any preference policy is tied to the promotion of established religious principles. Operators whose organizations do not clearly fall within this exemption remain subject to the full scope of Chapter 354-A's anti-discrimination requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 354-A:18, tenants should be aware that certain religiously affiliated housing providers are legally permitted to prefer applicants of their own faith, which can limit the reach of New Hampshire's fair housing protections in those specific contexts. If a tenant believes a housing provider is improperly claiming this exemption—for example, if the organization does not appear to be genuinely religious or denominationally governed—general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with state fair housing law. Understanding whether a particular housing provider legitimately qualifies for this exemption is a key threshold question in evaluating any potential claim.
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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