The City of Berlin, New Hampshire, is taking a big step toward modernizing its Zoning Ordinance, thanks to support from NH Housing’s InVestNH Municipal Planning Grants, Housing Opportunity Program (HOP). Building on the 2022 Master Plan and Barrett Planning Group’s comprehensive review of local land use regulations in 2023-2024, the City is embarking on a full “soup-to-nuts” rewrite of the ordinance. The goal is a clear, housing-focused zoning ordinance that residents and developers alike can easily understand and use.
This next step builds directly on the work completed through the first round of HOP funding, where Barrett Planning Group led a robust process that included extensive community engagement and input. Our team spent significant time with the City’s ordinance and identified a wide range of opportunities for improvement. With that foundation, the City is moving forward with several of our recommendations and turning them into action. Rather than making piecemeal changes, the City is starting fresh, and Barrett Planning Group is pleased to continue guiding the process.
With the Berlin Planning Department and Planning Board at the helm, the City kicked off the zoning ordinance rewrite in July and held a public information meeting led by Barrett Planning Group in October. A key priority is ensuring residents see their community and neighborhoods reflected in the new ordinance. To get there, community voices will play an essential role.
The community engagement plan includes a citywide survey and small focus groups facilitated by Barrett Planning Group from December 2025 through February 2026, along with frequent meetings with the Planning Board. These conversations will give residents, business owners, developers, and others a chance to share valuable, on-the-ground perspectives to help make a better ordinance. Judi Barrett, our lead planner for Berlin’s Zoning Ordinance, will integrate public feedback, advice from City staff, and direction from the Planning Board into the full zoning rewrite. The project will wrap up with a public presentation of the revised Zoning Ordinance in May 2026.
