The subdivision process differs between towns.  Depending upon which town your land is located in, the process can vary from simple to very complex.  The local planning board is the governing entity which regulates subdivision in town, along with permitting from the state of New Hampshire agencies.

This chart gives a general progression through the subdivision procedure.

Subdivision Flowchart

Click the link below for a website than answers many questions about land use, variances, zoning, etc.

http://www.nh.gov/oep/programs/MRPA/ZoningBoardFAQs.htm

Click the link for the definition of Substantial Completion.

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LXIV/674/674-39.htm

• CPP - Certified Plot Plan
• CWS - Certified Wetland Scientist
• CSS - Certified Soil Scientist
• EIT - Engineer-in-Training
• HISS - High Intensity Soil Survey
• NHDES - New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
• LLS - Licensed Land Surveyor
• NPDES - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
• NRCS / SCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service / Soil Conservation Service
• NAD83 - National American Datum, 1983
• NAVD88 - North American Vertical Datum, 1988
• PB - Planning Board
• PE - Licensed Professional Engineer
• SIT - Surveyor-in-Training
• SDS - Subsurface Disposal System
• SWPPP - Storm Water Pollution and Prevention Plan
• USGS - United States Geologic Survey 
• ZBA - Zoning Board of Adjustment

Why do I need a drainage design?

Many towns require drainage studies/designs for proposed site plans and subdivisions.  This is because the towns want to ensure that the stormwater quality is not degraded and peak discharge is not increased.  Depending on the size of the project, permitting from the state may also be required.

What is a Return Period?  What is a 25-year storm?

Roughly speaking, the return period is the average time between occurences of a given storm event, such as the 25-year storm.  To be more precise, a 25-year storm has a 4% probabilty of occuring in any given year.  Therefore a 25-year storm can occur in two consecutive years, even multiple times in the same year.