1. (a) For purposes of this section, “animal” means any domestic animal kept for pleasure, comfort, or both rather than utility, including but not limited to dogs and cats, and animals traditionally associated with agriculture such as cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, or swine, and wildlife raised in captivity, but excluding equines and animals used for utility covered in Ncr 731.09.
2. (b) Service animals that are actively working, including animals used for detection and search and rescue training and operations, shall be exempt from all prohibitions in this section unless stated otherwise.

3. (c) Animals shall be permitted on a department property unless temporarily prohibited or restricted to public use by posting under Ncr 731.07, or prohibited or restricted to animals under:

   1. (1) Ncr 731.08(d), where animals shall be permitted only in certain areas during the operating season;
   2. (2) Ncr 731.08(e), where animals shall be prohibited in certain areas during the operating season;
   3. (3) Ncr 731.08(f), where animals shall be permitted where normally prohibited under (d) and (e) after seasonal property closings and prior to seasonal property openings, except for certain restrictions at Hampton Beach state park; or
   4. (4) Ncr 731.08(g), where animals shall be prohibited year-round.

4. (d) In accordance with (e) and (g) herein, during the operating season animals shall be permitted on department properties except at department properties listed below where animals shall be permitted only in the following areas:

   1. (1) In all department campgrounds from April 1 through November 1;
   2. (2) In Bear Brook state park, at the campground and hiking trails only;
   3. (3) In Crawford Notch state park, at the campground, park hiking trails, and the designated dog walk area at the Willey site only;
   4. (4) In Franconia Notch state park, at the designated dog walk area and on hiking trails only, but not ski trails;
   5. (5) In Greenfield state park, at the campground and on hiking trails only;
   6. (6) In Moose Brook state park, at the campground and on hiking trails only;
   7. (7) In Mount Washington state park, at designated areas only;
   8. (8) In Umbagog state park, at base camp and designated remote campsites only; and
   9. (9) In Wellington state park, at the hiker parking area and trails on the west side of West Shore Road only.

5. (e) In accordance with (d) and (g) herein, during the operating season where animals are otherwise permitted, animals shall be prohibited in the following areas:

   1. (1) At state park coastal beaches, including Rye Harbor also known as “Ragged Neck;”
   2. (2) At state park freshwater beaches, beach recreation areas, and designated swim areas;
   3. (3) At established state park picnic shelters, picnic areas, pavilions, and group use areas;
   4. (4) In the camper cabins, lodge houses, and lodge rooms at Coleman state park;
   5. (5) In the camper cabin at Deer Mountain campground;
   6. (6) In Echo Lake state park, at the beach, picnic area, or on the lake perimeter hiking trail;
   7. (7) At Ellacoya state park;
   8. (8) At Fort Constitution historic site;
   9. (9) At Fort Stark historic site;
   10. (10) In the camper cabins at Jericho Mountain state park;
   11. (11) In the yurts at Milan Hill state park;
   12. (12) In Monadnock and Gilson Pond campgrounds;
   13. (13) In Mount Sunapee state park, at the beach, and at the main park and ski area, during the annual arts and crafts festival;
   14. (14) In Pawtuckaway state park, at the beach and at the campground;
   15. (15) In White Lake state park, at the beach and at the campground, picnic areas, beaches, and near park facilities.

6. (f) After seasonal property closings and prior to seasonal property openings, animals shall be permitted on department properties unless otherwise posted or prohibited year-round under Ncr 731.08 (g), except:

   1. (1) In Hampton Beach state park along Ocean Boulevard and at Hampton Beach South, Jenness state beach, North Beach, North Hampton state beach, Rye Harbor/Ragged Neck state park, and Wallis Sands state beach animals shall be permitted only from October 1 through April 30. The provisions of Ncr 731.08(k) through (m) shall remain in full force; and
   2. (2) The department shall prohibit animals in Hampton Beach state park where animals are permitted when the department determines there is a lack of compliance to this section by animal owners or the department determines it is necessary under Ncr 731.07.

7. (g) Animals shall be prohibited year-round on the following department properties:

   1. (1) At Monadnock state park;
   2. (2) At Odiorne Point state park;
   3. (3) At Ossipee Lake natural area; and
   4. (4) At Rhododendron state park, except at the parking area and the section of Rhododendron loop which is not posted as prohibited which provides trail access to and on Little Monadnock Mountain trail.
8. (h) Rules related to animals at all New Hampshire fish and game department access areas operated as state boat launches within department properties, to include but limited to, Bear Brook state park, Wellington state park, Greenfield state park, Bedell Bridge state park, Sky Pond state forest and Pawtuckaway state park shall be in accordance with Fis 1603.01.
9. (i) Dogs used for hunting or search and rescue shall be permitted on department properties off leash and under the control of their handlers in accordance with RSA 466:30-a, during hunting season or while active in search and rescue training or operations unless animals are prohibited year-round under Ncr 731.08 (g), search and rescue operations excepted. Dogs used for hunting shall be on a not greater than 6-foot length leash in areas where the public congregates, such as parking and trailhead areas, picnic areas, and while on established hiking trails. While on department properties, dogs in training for hunting shall be subject to the provisions related to such activity under RSA 207:12-a and Fis 902.04.
10. (j) Except for (g) and (h) above, in remote areas dogs shall be permitted off leash and under the control of their handlers in accordance with RSA 466:30-a provided that the dog is not or does not become a menace, a nuisance, or vicious as defined in RSA 466:31, under which the owner or handler shall restrain, leash, and remove the dog from the property. For purposes of this section, “remote area” means those areas and trails where and during a time when the dog owner or handler and the dog will not come in contact with other users. The dog owner or handler shall leash the dog when other users are present.
11. (k) Sled dog teams shall be permitted on department property roadways, parking areas, and multi-use trails when posted as an allowable use.
12. (l) Except for (h) above, every animal, including service animals unless required to be off-leash to perform the service required, shall be on a not greater than 6-foot length standard or retractable leash or lead, under the control of their handlers, and shall not be left unattended at any time or place, including in any campsite, vehicle, camper, recreational vehicle, carrier, or enclosure at any time while on department properties.
13. (m) Animal owners, including owners of service animals, shall clean up and remove offsite any waste eliminated by their animal(s) from public traffic areas, including all trails, multi-use trails, walkways, sidewalks, play areas, play fields, lawns, campgrounds, beaches, and parking lots.
14. (n) If an animal, including a service animal, becomes objectionable to other patrons or other animals, or causes or acts in a manner that might cause or contribute to damage or hazard to patrons, property, or park resources, or is a dog considered to be a menace, nuisance, or vicious in accordance with RSA 466:31, as determined by the authorized department personnel, the owner of the animal shall immediately remove the animal from the department property at the request of the authorized department personnel.

Source. #14055 EMERGENCY, EXPIRED: 2-15-25 New. #14291, eff 6-25-25, EXPIRES: 6-25-35