cottage renovation on existing footprint
 

My cottage is closer to the lake than current laws would allow. I know I can rebuild or renovate on existing foundation footprint. Does that footprint include outside decks? By that i mean can I add 4 season space and foundation where there is currently a deck.

I should remember that for sure, but I think you can.

House foot print
 

I believe that if it was a deck it has to stay a deck, but you can always go to the planning board and request a variance.:)

There is a lot of info here:
http://des.nh.gov/organization/divis...cspa/index.htm

If the cottage is within 50' from the lake, you can't expand the living space in the direction of the lake. Other directions, maybe, but you will need to go through the State shoreland permit process. Some towns may also have additional local restrictions.

Existing Footprint includes porches but not deck.
 

In Gilford you can enclosed a covered porch and make it part of the living space but you can't used an existing deck. Even with current shoreline laws a covered porch on the lakeside can be converted to be part of the structure.

What I have seen a number of owners do is build a 'temporary' deck and cover it with tarp to circumvent the laws.

There is a nice new house built right next to Lincoln Park in Gilford. The old house was torn down (see Google map for a lyout of it) and none of the property that I could see is more than 50 feet away. Big house for a little lot.

Slickcraft is correct. You cannot expand the living space toward the water. You may use provisions of RSA 483-B:11 to expand laterally.

If that is true
 

I know a few shorefront owners expand the living quarters into what once was a three season or screened in porch with a full roof. Money talks?

Not a case of money talks. You cannot convert a seasonal porch to living space if that porch is within the 50 ft primary buiilding setback and the conversion reduces the current distance between the living space and the reference line. You could be seeing cases where the porch was more than 50 ft away. It could be cases of lateral expansion that did not reduce the pre-existing setback. It could be that the pre-existing enclosed porch was heated, insulated and finished so as to already have been considered living space. Or... it could have been done illegally and they just haven't been caught yet.