Are you a new resident or thinking of moving to Canterbury? Then you are in the right place! This page contains (almost) everything you need to know to get started in this rural NH town.
Town Clerk Checklist
On your first day in town, be sure to go see Sam! He is our Town Clerk-Tax Collector and his office is where you will get started on paperwork for:
- Register your vehicle
- Get NH license plates
- Register your dog
- Register to vote
Be sure to look at the requirements for each task so you bring the right paperwork with you!
Rural Life
Moving from a city or larger town? Then you might be surprised by some aspects of rural life.
The most immediate thing to know is that we don’t have trash pickup. All trash and recycling is handled at the Transfer Station. Click here to read more about hours and sorting. A fair number of residents choose to hire a private pickup service instead. For that and any local business you might need, we recommend looking at the Newsletter’s business listing or asking your neighbors on the Canterbury NH Facebook Group.
Local Government
Canterbury is one of the many New Hampshire towns that operate by having an annual Town Meeting in which elected officials are chosen and warrant articles are voted upon. A uniquely New England tradition, this form of government gives the local populace direct say in how the Town is run.
The elected officials include a Board of Selectmen which performs the Town’s executive functions for the rest of the year. The three members implement Town Meeting decisions, appoint members of Town boards and commissions to help them in their work, hire Town personnel, and serve as administrative head of all Town departments. They appoint a Town Administrator who handles day-to-day operations on their behalf.
To have your voice heard, it is important to attend Town Meeting! Participation is how democracy thrives, so please make every effort to learn about what is happening in town and come to Town Meeting in March.
More information about the when, where, and how can be found on the Town Meeting page.
Get Involved
The best way to get to know people in Canterbury is to volunteer!
Most events and activities in town are run by volunteers. From the annual Canterbury Fair to the weekly summer Farmers Market to the Halloween Extravaganza, it is all done through community effort. No matter where your interests lie, we have something for you do to!
Check out our Volunteering page to learn more about all the ways you can get involved.
Go to the Library
Make sure to go to Elkins Public Library and get a library card!
Not only is our library a great place to get books, magazines, movies, and other traditional media, it also has a seed library, games and puzzles, a borrowable telescope, free notarizing, computers, and much more! It is hands down the best place in town to find out what is happening and who to go to for what.
They have a robust children’s program, several clubs, a monthly speaker series, and weekly tech help. Plus, they don’t charge late fees, they just suggest donating to the “Conscience Box”.