Portsmouth Avenue Commercial District

Portsmouth Avenue Commercial District - What Is It?

Portsmouth Avenue is a bustling corridor located less than a quarter of a mile from downtown and accessible to NH-101 by exit 11. Businesses may find Portsmouth Avenue an ideal location for a variety of reasons:

• Traffic counts - As of 2004, traffic counts for Portsmouth Ave ranged from 15,000 cars per day at the intersection of High Street to 22,000 cars per day at the Stratham town line. 
• Easily accessible from downtown and 101
• Variety - From shopping plazas to dining establishments to gas stations, Portsmouth Ave has drawn businesses of all types of uses. Consumers value the proximity of these different businesses, knowing that the road is a "one stop shop" for several errands.
• Proximity to the health care district

What's allowed

The Portsmouth Avenue commercial district mainly consists of the zoning area "C-2: Highway Commercial."  Minimum Lot Area in the C-2 district is 20,000 square feet.  Height maximums are 35 feet, with heights up to 50 feet permitted by Special Exception of the Board of Adjustment.  Maximum building coverage is 30%, with a 15% open space set aside.  See zoning ordinance for further details.

Zoning Ordinances

Site plan and subdivision regulations

Commercial zoning chart

Learn more

Interested in learning more about growing or developing on Portsmouth Avenue?

For more information about current vacancies, financial incentives, and working with the town:

• Darren Winham, Economic Development Director: 603-773-6122 dwinham@exeternh.gov

​​To provide business-related feedback or to learn more about local, state, and federal business resources: 

• Darren Winham, Exeter Economic Development Director, dwinham@exeternh.gov
• Exeter Economic Development Commission:  edc@exeternh.gov

For more information about building permits and licenses:

• Doug Eastman, Building Inspector: 603-778-0591 ext 112 DEastman@exeternh.gov
• Building Department

For information about plan review requirements:

• Jason Proulx ​jproulx1@wm.com  

Need assistance finding a local commercial realtor?

• Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce