By-Right vs. Discretionary Permitting
Why does the approval pathway determine whether housing gets built at all?
Open module →The Missing Middle: Housing Types Portsmouth Lacks
What housing types exist in Portsmouth's older neighborhoods but can't be built new — and why?
Open module →RSA 79-E: Community Revitalization Tax Relief
How can temporary property tax relief unlock investment in older buildings and new housing?
Open module →How a Development Pro Forma Works
What is the financial test every housing project must pass before it can be built?
Open module →What AMI Means in Portsmouth Dollars
When the HAP sets an affordability target, who does it actually reach in Portsmouth's market?
Open module →Permanent Affordability: The Tools Available to Portsmouth
What's actually off the table under Dillon's Rule — and what tools does Portsmouth have?
Open module →Why Sequence Matters: Item Dependencies in the HAP
Which items are preconditions for others, and what does that mean for triage?
Open module →How Affordable Housing Gets Financed
What is the capital stack, why does the operating gap exist, and what can Portsmouth actually do about it?
Open module →Portsmouth Zoning: The Triage Reference
Zone structure, approval pathways, compliance deadlines, and all 38 Z-items grouped by mechanism — in one place.
Open module →Suggested reading path
New to the Housing Action Plan? Start here.