Is Public Nudity Legal in New Hampshire?
ToleratedRestricted: private venues and exceptions only· Checked by Reto Pascal Wyss
No, New Hampshire makes it a misdemeanor to expose your genitals under circumstances you should know will likely cause affront or alarm. Towns can add their own rules: in 2019 the state Supreme Court upheld convictions under Laconia's public-nudity ordinance, including its different body-coverage rules for each gender.[1][2]
Main provision: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 645:1 (indecent exposure and lewdness)
Designated nude beaches or tolerance?
No officially designated clothing-optional beach or public area is documented in the sources we found.
Private naturist clubs and resorts
AANR's club locator lists New Hampshire among the states it covers for member clubs.[3]
Penalties
A misdemeanor; a repeat offence after a prior conviction is a class B felony, and exposure for sexual gratification knowing a child under 16 is present is also a class B felony.[1]
Is going topless legal?
The state statute covers genitals, not breasts, but in State v. Lilley (2019) the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld convictions under a Laconia ordinance prohibiting nudity in public places, holding that it permissibly distinguishes the areas of the body each gender must cover.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
Is public nudity legal in New Hampshire?
No, New Hampshire makes it a misdemeanor to expose your genitals under circumstances you should know will likely cause affront or alarm. Towns can add their own rules: in 2019 the state Supreme Court upheld convictions under Laconia's public-nudity ordinance, including its different body-coverage rules for each gender.
Are there official nude beaches in New Hampshire?
No officially designated clothing-optional beach or public area is documented in the sources we found.
Is nudity allowed at private naturist clubs in New Hampshire?
AANR's club locator lists New Hampshire among the states it covers for member clubs.
What is the penalty for public nudity in New Hampshire?
A misdemeanor; a repeat offence after a prior conviction is a class B felony, and exposure for sexual gratification knowing a child under 16 is present is also a class B felony.
Is going topless legal in New Hampshire?
The state statute covers genitals, not breasts, but in State v. Lilley (2019) the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld convictions under a Laconia ordinance prohibiting nudity in public places, holding that it permissibly distinguishes the areas of the body each gender must cover.
Sources
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 645:1 (2025, Justia) (statute)
- State v. Lilley, No. 2017-0116 (N.H. Feb. 8, 2019) (Justia) (court)
- AANR Nudist Club Locator (federation)
This page summarises the law for travellers and is not legal advice. Laws, local bylaws and enforcement change; follow local signs and check the sources below. Last checked 31 October 2026.