2026 NH Primary Election Information
September 3, 2026Public Art Review Committee Seeks Artists for Hanover Garage Project
September 3, 2026The Hanover Street Parking Garage will be getting new artwork, thanks to the City’s Percent-for-Art Program. The City’s Public Art Review Committee (PARC) is seeking proposals for original art to enliven the garage’s exterior.
Any type of artist is welcome to apply. A recent FlashVote survey found strong public interest in more downtown murals, and that preference will factor into the selection. Other concepts may include an outdoor sculpture or a projection or lighting effect on the garage.
Labor Day Holiday & Election Day Service Impacts 2026
September 2, 2026Labor Day
In observance of Labor Day the following services will be impacted:
City Hall: Closed - Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7. The Clerk’s Office will be open Monday, September 7 from 3 - 5 pm for any last-minute Absentee Ballot requests and returns.
Reminder to Drivers to Watch for Students as Schools Reopen
August 24, 2026The Department of Public Works Parking Enforcement Division, which manages the school crossing guard schedule, asks drivers to watch for increased pedestrian activity as students and guardians walk and bike to school. Motorists should follow crossing guards’ directions, obey posted school speed limits, and plan alternate routes if school traffic could delay time-sensitive travel.
City Historic Cemetery Committee Pays Tribute to Revolutionary War Veterans for America 250th
August 12, 2026For the commemoration of America’s 250th, the City of Portsmouth’s Cemetery Committee has taken on the project to research and locate the gravesites of all veterans of the American Revolution who are buried in the City’s historic cemeteries. Members of the Cemetery Committee including Susana Polidura and Dee Dee Forte have now placed red, white, and blue markers at these graves in North Cemetery, the South Street cemeteries, St. John’s, Pleasant Street, and Point of Graves. For more on the City’s historic cemeteries, visit: https://portsnh.co/HistoricCemeteries
Heat Advisory August 6 & 7, 2026
August 6, 2026There is a Heat Advisory in place Thursday, August 6 and into Friday, August 7. Potential heat index values in the mid to high 90s.
Online Guide for Residents Navigating Land Use Boards
July 17, 2026
Not sure whether your project needs Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, or Historic District Commission approval?
City of Portsmouth, NH Announces Event Parking Shuttle for Sail Portsmouth 2026 Maritime Festival, July 23-26
July 16, 2026Sail Portsmouth welcomes a parade of the Dutch tall ship, the Oosterschelde, and a flotilla of other vessels to Portsmouth on Thursday, July 23 starting at 7:30 pm.
Banfield Realty LLC v . City of Portsmouth, et.al. – Settlement Agreement
July 15, 2026Attached is a Settlement Agreement between the City of Portsmouth and Banfield Realty LLC, that has been approved by the Court. The Settlement Agreement releases the City from all claims asserted by Banfield Realty, LLC and Green Valley Realty, LLC. No money damages are awarded to either party.
City Addresses June Storm Damage and Public Safety in Portsmouth's Urban Forest
July 13, 2026A fast-moving line of thunderstorms on June 18, 2026, which is believed to have produced a microburst over downtown Portsmouth, caused significant damage to the City’s urban forest.
City Arborist Foreman, Max Wiater, reported to the City’s Trees and Public Greenery Committee that nine trees fell in Haven Park, including six large, mature trees. Three more trees came down in Pleasant Street Cemetery, with additional damage in the Wentworth Senior Living parking lot between the two sites. Other trees in the area were damaged. No injuries were reported.