Senate Bill 299 (SB 299) was signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte on June 10, 2025. This new law strengthens enforcement of the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act by establishing penalties for contractors who supervise or perform work in violation of the law.
By introducing clear enforcement tools, this law aims to deter contractors from knowingly violating shoreland regulations or ignoring permit requirements. It provides added accountability, helping to protect the health of New Hampshire’s lakes and shielding property owners from inadvertently hiring contractors with a history of noncompliance.
Specifically, the law allows for fines up to $5,000 for contractors for the first offense and doubles the fines for subsequent violations.
The law will take effect on January 1, 2026.