Last Updated July 26, 2010

Town Clerk

• Location: 3 North Lowell Road

• Hours of Operation: 8 AM - 4 PM, M-F (Monday eves. until 7 PM). Last Saturday of each month (except December) 9 AM - 12 PM

• Phone: (603) 434-5075 / Fax: (603) 425-6582

• Email:  Nicole Merrill, Town Clerk

• Related Pages: New to Windham?

NEW! Beginning with our February, 2010 renewals, you can now complete your vehicle registration online. Simply click the E-Reg button to the right to proceed. The Town Clerk's Office is a full-service department, offering full motor vehicle registration services (with the exception of 20 day temporary plates), vital record assistance, hunting and fishing licenses, off-road vehicle and boat registration, transfer station decals, skate park decals, dog licensing, voter registration, and census upkeep.

New and current residents alike are encouraged to review the information below prior to coming in if they have any questions regarding proper procedures, or call us for further information.

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Vehicle Registration:

NEW RESIDENTS RELOCATING FROM OUT-OF-STATE:  Note: New Hampshire allows new residents only 60 days to change over driver’s licenses and/or motor vehicle registrations

1. Present to the Town Clerk’s Office documentation from the closing of your home (ie. HUD statement, deed, etc.), OR, if renting, you must present one (1) of the following: a lease, rent receipt, or written statement from the current property owner confirming your residency.

2. If your vehicle is less than fifteen (15) years old, present your out-of-state TITLE (a copy is not acceptable), OR, if your vehicle IS fifteen (15) years old or more , present a copy of your title from out of state, or a New Hampshire Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) verification form (19a).

3. If your title is currently held by an out-of-state lienholder or leasing company and your registration and insurance are still validcontact your lienholder or leasing company directly and inform them that you have moved to NH that way they will prepare the proper paperwork needed to make it a smoother transaction.

NH is a ‘title state’, and as such, any existing title must be surrendered at the time of registration. Again, it must be the actual title, a photocopy is NOT sufficient. The Town Clerk’s Office is not authorized to make request for a title on your behalf. It must be made by the NH Title Bureau. Present your out-of-state registration and the lienholder or leasing company’s name and mailing address. Also, please jot down your current mileage so we can prepare a NH title application for a fee of $2 for the Town and $25 for the State. Upon receipt, they will request for your title from your lienholder or leasing company.

Once the title is received at the Bureau’s office, a notice will be sent to you authorizing the Town Clerk’s office to issue your registration and plates. If you have any questions, or if your notification is taking longer than expected, then please contact the Title Bureau at 603-271-3111 or 603-271-3112. Make sure to bring the letter of notification in to the Town Clerk’s Office that the State sends you. Please note that the letter from the State is a little confusing so please have patience. This is a process which can take up to several weeks.

4. If your insurance or registration has already expired, or will expire within the next twenty (20) days, please bring to the Town Clerk’s Office your current out-of- state registration and your insurance showing the proof of expiration, along with the lienholder or leasing company’s name and mailing address you will qualify for a “Hardship Registration”.

We will prepare a NH title application and registration, and collect your town registration taxes. You will then be directed to the Salem Motor Vehicle Sub-station, where you will pay your registration fees for the State. Salem will issue a sixty (60) day temporary plate, and at some point during that time, upon receipt of your out-of-state title, Concord Motor Vehicle will forward your metal plates directly to you.

NH RESIDENTS RELOCATING TO WINDHAM:

1. Same as #1 above.

2. We will provide you with a change of address card, which you must complete and forward to the Division of Motor Vehicles within ten (10) days of moving.

3. If you do not receive a renewal notice from the Town of Windham for your vehicle, or if your renewal is due the month you move to Town, you must present to the Clerk’s Office your expiring registration from your previous town of residence.  If you do not have your registration, you must obtain a copy from the town where it was issued prior to obtaining a renewal with the Town of Windham.

ALL RESIDENTS:

1. Registration fees paid to the Town of Windham are based on the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) when the vehicle was new.  The MSRP is taken from the “Red Book” published by National Market Reports.  The same book is used state-wide, and all taxes are calculated from the same, state-regulated tables.  Current year vehicles are taxed at $18.00/thousand for the first year.  The rate is then reduced by $3.00/thousand per year until the vehicle is six (6) years old.  At that time, the rate remains at $3.00/thousand. The State registration fee is based on the gross vehicle weight (GVW).

2. The Town Clerk cannot register a new vehicle for less than five (5) months, nor more than sixteen (16).  A resident who comes to the office in July, and whose birthday falls in November would register for five (5) months.  The same registration processed in August would run for sixteen (16) months.

3. When transferring license plates to a newly purchased vehicle, please bring the paperwork for the new vehicle (Certificate of Origin or title) as well as the prior (current) registration from the vehicle being replaced. Please remember that your license plates and registration are your property and responsibility, and should remain in your possession after the sale or trade-in of any vehicle.

4. Vehicle registrations expire on the last day of the owner’s birth month, except in the case of a company owned or leased vehicle.  In this case, the expiration date is determined by the first letter of the company name.  The Town of Windham forwards registration reminders to vehicle owners, however, it is the registrant’s responsibility to renew the vehicle in the event of lost or misdirected mail. Registrations being renewed by mail must  include a self-addressed stamped envelope in order to avoid mailing delays. There is no grace period on expired registrations.

5. You also have the opportunity to register your vehicle online with the Town Clerks’ Office. Please follow the link at the top of the page to complete your registration. Please be prepared to be asked your vehicle information as well as your bank information.

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Vehicle Inspections:

NEW VEHICLES: Within ten (10) calendar days of obtaining your plates and registration you are required to have a safety inspection of your vehicle(s).

VEHICLE RENEWALS: Vehicles up for renewal are expected to be inspected during their renewal month, however, there is a ten (10) grace period into the following month.

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Driver Licensing:

You may obtain or renew your driver’s license at the Department of Motor Vehicles located on Geremonty Drive in Salem, NH.  New residents should be prepared to present the following:

• A valid out-of-state license, which must be surrendered

• The following forms of identification: an original birth certificate or certified copy, a valid passport, or a valid military ID.

• Proof of residency. Acceptable forms include: a valid NH registration, a Town/City Clerk approval of residency, or a postmarked utility bill showing the service address.

Currently, the fee for a standard Operator License is $50.00.  Additional fees are charged for Motorcycle and Commercial endorsements.  Drivers under the age of eighteen (18) are required to complete a Driver Education Course, and show parental or guardian consent.  Driver’s Licenses are valid for a term of five (5) years, expiring at midnight on the licensee's birthday.

The DMV in Salem is open from 8:15 am to 4:15 pm, Monday through Friday, and you may contact Driver Licensing in Concord at 603-271-2371 for more information.

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Voter Registration:

You may register to vote any time during regular business hours. You must be an American citizen, and present proof thereof. A birth certificate or passport is acceptable. If you are a Naturalized citizen, you must present your naturalization papers. Proof of residency is also required. A driver’s license or utility bill would suffice.

Voter registration cannot be accepted by the Town Clerk’s office within ten (10) days prior to any election, however, the Supervisors of the Checklist sit prior to an election for new voters, change of party, etc. Their hours are posted in the local paper, and in the Town Hall. Registration can also be completed at the polls on the day of the election.

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Marriage Licensing:

Couples should be aware of the following requirements to obtain a marriage license in NH:

• If applying for your license in the State of New Hampshire you may go to any Town Clerk’s office. It doesn’t matter where you’re getting married. Both parties must present their birth certificates or passports at the time of application. Also, if it is not a first marriage for either, you must present your final divorce decree/ annulment papers or death certificate.

• Blood tests are not required.

• Your license will be effective immediately, with no waiting period, and remain valid for a period of 90 days.

• Cost: $50.00. Please note, the Town Clerk's Office will not accept out-of-state checks nor do we process credit cards or debit cards at this time.

• After the ceremony, it is your officiant's responsibility to ensure that the completed license is returned to the Town Clerk's Office that you applied with. It will then take approximately 10-14 days for the information to be updated in the vital records system.

• If you would like us to mail your certificate to you, please provide a self-addressed stamped envelope, along with a statement declaring a copy of your Certificate of Marriage including the groom's name, bride's maiden name, and date/place of the ceremony.

• Additional certified copies may be also obtained. Fee will be $12 for the first copy, and $8/ea for any subsequent copies requested.

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Dog Licensing:

State of New Hampshire RSA 466:1 requires that every owner or keeper of a dog 4 months old or older shall annually cause it to be registered, numbered, described, and licensed for one year in the office the clerk of the city or town in which the dog is kept, and shall cause it to wear around its neck a collar to which shall be attached a metal tag with the following information thereon: the name of the city or town, year of issue of license and its registered number. Regardless of when the license is obtained, the license shall be effective from May 1 to April 30 of the subsequent year. RSA 466:14 requires the clerk of the city or town to issue a $25 civil forfeiture to the owner or keeper of each unlicensed dog.

If one is not on file with the Town Clerk, please provide a rabies certificate when securing a dog license. The certificate and license fee may be mailed or hand delivered to the Town Clerks Office. License fees are as follows:

Windham has adopted a “dog control” law which states that the dog must be in the presence and sight of a responsible adult at all times, and must respond when called.  There are also statutes regarding nuisance and vicious dog offenses, and local regulations regarding dogs on Town property.

The Animal Control Officer will take into custody any dog found off the property of its owners, having reason to believe it is a stray, or any dog without a current tag on its collar.  Once impounded for any reason, the dog may be disposed of or destroyed if not claimed within seven (7) days.  If the identity of the owner is known, Animal Control will serve a notice in writing that the dog has been seized and must be retrieved within five (5) days or face euthanasia. 

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Other Services:

The following items and services are also handled by the Windham Town Clerk and staff:

• Resident/Non-Resident Hunting and Fishing License: If you interested in obtaining any type of license, please have your driver’s license/ID on hand at the time of issue. Also, make sure the person that is getting the license, is the person that comes in to the office. If you are obtaining a hunting license, please have your prior hunting license or current hunter’s safety education card.

• OHRV (Off-Road Vehicle) Registrations: If you are registering a new OHRV, please provide a bill of sale, a previous registration, or a certificate of origin so we can complete your registration. If you are renewing your OHRV, please have the prior registration so we can process everything efficiently.

• Boat Registrations: If registering a new boat, please provide a bill of sale, prior boat registration, or HIN number Identification (Form 690) if need be. If you’re simply renewing your boat, please have either the mailer that the State sends with you, or a copy of your previous boat registration.

• Vital Statistic Records: As mentioned before, we provide marriage licenses. We also distribute death certificates, birth certificates, and marriage certificates. If you need copies of birth certificates, please make sure that the person was born in the State of New Hampshire. If they were born out of state, then you will need to contact that particular Vital Statistics Bureau. We also can access Divorce Decrees, as long as they took place in the State of New Hampshire.

Directions to the Town Clerk's Office from I-93 North or South: Exit 3, left onto Route 111W. Straight through two sets of lights, at Shaws and the Village Green. First right onto Church Street.  At end, Town Hall is directly across the street on the hill.