City of Dover, NH - Official Website

The City of Dover, NH is a great place to live, work, and play. Dover is conveniently located in the seacoast area of New Hampshire. Settled in 1623, Dover is the oldest permanent settlement in New Hampshire and the 7th oldest in the United States.
The City of Dover, NHis ranked one of the top 100 communities in the United States and one of the nation's top communities for young people.

Source: CNN/Money and America's Promise Alliance
The City of Dover, NHboasts superior municipal services, an exceptional school system, outstanding parks and recreation services, and numerous cultural destinations and events.
The City of Dover, NHis the fastest-growing city in New Hampshire.

Source: U.S. Census
The City of Dover, NHis home to a vibrant and thriving business community.

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State certifies Dover’s tax rate; tax bills to be mailed soon

posted on 12/9/2025
The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) certified the City of Dover’s property tax rate for fiscal year 2026 (tax year 2025) on Dec. 8, 2025, at $19.68 per $1,000 assessed valuation.
Tax bills are being prepared and will be mailed to property owners on or about Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. The first half of the tax bill will be due 30 days from the bill date in January 2026, and the second half of the tax bill will be due on Monday, June 1, 2026.
The tax rate set by the DRA represents a $1.51 increase, or 8.3%, over the prior year. In email to the City Council about the certified tax rate, City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr., wrote, “It should be noted that the overall tax rate would have been $0.16 lower as a result of an increase in assessed value created by new construction; however, this reduction was offset by a $0.09 increase attributable to the change in the County tax apportionment, and a $0.07 increase required for the statewide education property tax (SWEPT) assessment.
“The overall rate increase is comprised of a $0.47 increase for the City portion of the tax bill, a $0.96 increase for the combined local and State School portions, and a $0.08 increase for the County,” City Manager Joyal said....more
Capital Improvements Program, Warming Center on Council’s Dec. 10 Agenda

posted on 12/8/2025
The City Council will consider adopting the FY2027-2032 Capital Improvements Program at its Wednesday, Dec. 10 meeting. They will also hold a public hearing and a vote on a FY2026 budget amendment to fund Dover’s share of construction costs of a permanent emergency cold weather warming center on Strafford County grounds.
The FY26 budget amendment would appropriate $1,698,878 for the warming center that the Strafford County Commissioners propose to build at the former humane society site near the county jail. The county would supply the land at no cost, and the tri-cities of Dover, Rochester and Somersworth would divide the estimated $3.5 million project cost in proportion to each city’s portion of the combined equalized assessed property value, with Rochester’s share $1,316,593, and Somersworth’s share at $484,593. Dover’s portion would be partly offset by the planned sale of the current warming center at 30 Willand Drive in Somersworth after the conclusion of the winter season, as well as the proceeds from a recent sale of city-owned property in Rollinsford.
The vote on the FY27-32 CIP consists of three votes. One is on adopting the long-term planning document itself, which does not authorize or appropriate funding. The second will be authorizing and appropriating $4.6 million for FY27 non-debt finance projects. The third resolution would authorize bonding for debt-financed projects. The original resolution had planned for $37 million for debt-financed projects; however, at the Council’s Dec. 3 workshop, City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr., recommended reducing the debt-financing portion to $15 million. City Manager Joyal also recommended other changes to the six-year CIP planning document.
The City Council will also consider resolutions authorizing:...more