New to Pelham, NH: a newcomer's checklist

Get your NH driver's license and register your car

New Hampshire gives new residents 60 days to get an NH driver's license (RSA 263:35); licenses are handled by the NH Division of Motor Vehicles, and the town notes that if you miss the 60 days you won't be able to renew or register vehicles. Registration starts at the Town Clerk's office. Pelham requires proof of residency for anyone registering a vehicle in town for the first time, even if they've lived here before. Bring:

• Your current driver's license.
• If you own your home: a copy of the HUD statement, deed, or a utility bill in your name for that property. If you rent: a notarized lease, a utility bill in your name dated within the last 30 days, or a notarized statement from the property owner.
• For a 2000 or newer vehicle, the out-of-state title (no copies); for 1999 or older, the out-of-state registration and a VIN verification form.
• If a lender holds the title, your current out-of-state registration and the lienholder's name and address.

All owners must come in to sign. New vehicle transactions stop 15 minutes before closing.

• Registrations · Town Clerk / Tax Collector · NH DMV

Property tax bills

Pelham's 2025 total rate is $19.09 per $1,000 of assessed value (NH DRA), and the town's Assessor lists a 2025 equalization ratio of 73.7%. 2026 is a revaluation year: new values were mailed September 8, 2026 and are posted on the Assessor's page. The 2026 rate hadn't been set when we checked. Bills can be looked up and paid through the town's online payment page. If your mortgage company pays through escrow, forward any bill to them.

• Pay property taxes online · Assessor and the 2026 revaluation · Online services and payments · Pelham property taxes and records

Trash and recycling (transfer station)

Pelham residents take trash and recycling to the Recycling Center / Transfer Station at 74 Newcomb Field Parkway (603-635-3964). Hours: Tuesday 10:30 a.m. to 6:55 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4:25 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. It's for Pelham residents only, and you need a free transfer sticker: bring a valid driver's license and the vehicle's registration to the transfer station or to 33 Newcomb Field Parkway. A few rules: no styrofoam in recycling, cardboard no larger than 4 by 4, no propane tanks over 40 pounds, and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are banned from the trash. The town also lists regional household hazardous waste events.

• Recycling Center / Transfer Station · Sticker application (PDF)

Water and septic

Most Pelham homes have their own well and septic system. The town's Water Commission page says 95% of Pelham residents have private well water, and 100% of Pelham uses private septic systems, with no public sewer. Some homes are on public water from Pennichuck; to check whether an address is served, call the Pelham Planning Department at 603-635-7811. If you're buying a home on Pennichuck water, Pennichuck handles final readings and transfers (800-553-5191). The town also has a well ordinance for new construction.

• Water Commission and property transfer info · Well ordinance (PDF) · Well and septic guide

Dog license

Dogs 4 months and older must be licensed by April 30 each year (RSA 466:1). Bring a valid rabies certificate and a spay/neuter certificate if it applies. A $1-a-month late fee starts June 1, and a civil forfeiture applies after June 20. New registrations and renewals can be done online.

• Dog license info and fees

Library card

Pelham Public Library is at 24 Village Green (603-635-7581). Cards are free for Pelham residents and people who work or go to school in Pelham; bring your ID and proof of residency. Resident cards are renewed every 3 years.

• Pelham Public Library · Library FAQs (cards)

Registering to vote

Register at the Town Clerk's office, except in the 10 days before an election, or with the Supervisors of the Checklist at the polls on Election Day. Bring proof of identity, age, citizenship and domicile; the town notes an NH Real ID license is not proof of citizenship. The November 3, 2026 general election is at Pelham High School, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Voter registration · NH Secretary of State

Schools

Pelham's public schools are run by the Pelham School District (SAU 28), 59A Marsh Road (603-635-1145). New-student registration for grades K through 12 starts with the district's online form.

• Pelham School District: registration

Building or renovating

Building permits go through the Planning Department; the town posts a "Do I need a permit?" guide and its current codes. Note: the town has warned about fraudulent emails asking for planning and building payments.

• Building Services · Downloadable forms

Your first year as a homeowner

• Escrow: if your lender pays your taxes and insurance, your first escrow review usually comes about a year after closing. A tax change, or a new assessment after the 2026 revaluation, can change the payment; Tom can explain any escrow letter.
• Abatement: if you think your 2026 assessment is wrong, the Assessor says to file an abatement no later than March 1, 2027, by mail or hand delivery (no email) (RSA 76:16).
• Keep your closing documents: they speed up any future refinance.

Buying, refinancing or settled in Pelham? Tom MacDonald lives nearby in Litchfield and is glad to help. Tom MacDonald, Loan Officer, Elite Mortgage Group · NMLS #2748687 · Company NMLS #2502308MBR.