1. (a) This section shall apply to equine and other animals used for utility such as riding, driving, or transportation of persons, property, or goods, and including but not limited to animals traditionally associated with utility such as equines, cattle, goats, and llamas, but excluding animals kept for pleasure or comfort covered in Ncr 731.08.
2. (b) Service animals, as defined in Ncr 731.02, shall be exempt from the prohibitions in this section unless stated otherwise.
3. (c) The use of equines or other utility animals shall be permitted on all roads and other established trails, unless prohibited or restricted in certain areas as identified under (d) through (g) herein, or unless closed or restricted to public use by posting under Ncr 731.07.

4. (d) In accordance with (c) above, equines and other utility animals shall be prohibited within or upon the following areas where the public congregates or where there is the need to protect developed or improved facilities or natural resources, unless permission has been granted by special use permit pursuant to Ncr 740 or by volunteer agreement pursuant to Ncr 750, or by a property management plan, or by posting:

   1. (1) Lawns and fields maintained by regular mowing and associated with a developed recreation area;
   2. (2) Picnic areas;
   3. (3) Pavilions and group use areas;
   4. (4) Playgrounds, play areas, and athletic fields;
   5. (5) Areas around bathhouses and toilet buildings;
   6. (6) Areas around park stores;
   7. (7) Campgrounds;
   8. (8) Geologic features, such as but not limited to exposed rockface and glacial erratics; and
   9. (9) Beaches, except for (e) below at the location and during the dates specified.
5. (e) For coastal beaches after seasonal property closings and prior to seasonal park openings, equines shall be permitted at Hampton Beach, from Hampton Beach South to Boar’s Head, from October 1 through April 30, and the parking of animal trailers and vehicles towing animal trailers shall be permitted at the Hampton Beach South parking lot only.

6. (f) Equines and other utility animals shall be prohibited year-round in the following department properties, unless permission has been granted by special use permit pursuant to Ncr 740 or volunteer agreement pursuant to Ncr 750, or unless allowed in certain areas by posting:

   1. (1) At all state historic sites under the jurisdiction of the department’s bureau of historic sites;
   2. (2) At Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Tract, except as permitted in accordance with the public recreation management plan;(3) At the Cotton Valley Rail Trail;
   3. (3) At Crawford Notch state park;
   4. (4) At Echo Lake state park;
   5. (5) At Franconia Notch state park;
   6. (6) At Hampton Beach state park on the cement access path;
   7. (7) At Miller state park;
   8. (8) At Monadnock state park;
   9. (9) At Mount Washington state park;
   10. (10) At Odiorne Point state park;
   11. (11) At Ossipee Lake natural area;
   12. (12) At Rhododendron state park;
   13. (13) At Rollins state park;
   14. (14) At Rye Harbor state park; and
   15. (15) At Winslow state park.
7. (g) Driving of any equine or other utility animal-drawn vehicle shall be permitted on department property roadways, parking areas, and trails when posted as an allowable use. Permission for this activity in areas otherwise prohibited may be granted by special use permit pursuant to Ncr 740 or volunteer agreement pursuant to Ncr 750.
8. (h) Every animal, including service animals, shall be on rein or lead under the control of their handlers, and shall not be left unattended at any time or place while on department properties.
9. (i) Owners shall clean up and remove offsite within a reasonable time, but prior to leaving the site, all waste eliminated by their equine or other utility animal from public traffic areas and areas where the public congregates. These areas are defined as paved sidewalks and walkways, maintained play areas, and athletic fields, lawns, and fields maintained by regular mowing and associated with a developed recreation area, campsites, fresh water beaches, areas above the high tide mark at Hampton Beach, improved features such as picnic areas, staging, and gathering areas, and parking lots and trail heads.
10. (j) Owners shall with reasonable effort remove off of and scatter all waste eliminated by their animal from remote scenic overlooks, vistas, and picnic areas.
11. (k) When required by posting, owners shall with reasonable effort remove off of and scatter all waste eliminated by their animal from trails and unimproved walkways.
12. (l) Disposal of stall waste, hay, or manure shall not be permitted on department properties, unless permission has been granted by special use permit pursuant to Ncr 740 or volunteer agreement pursuant to Ncr 750.
13. (m) If an equine or other utility animal, including a service animal, causes or acts in a manner that might cause or contribute to damage or hazard to patrons, property or park resources, 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