Yes, your active sim can only change the NAPs in the zone in which you live.
But you can still change them in the other zones even if you are playing only one household in the save. All you have to do is play a household in each zone just long enough to change the repeal the naps. Basically, enter a household from the map. Repeal all the NAPs in that zone. Exit the lot back to the map. Then go to Manage Households and mark that household as unplayed again. Rinse and Repeat for each zone.
Whether you leave them in My Households or Other Households is up to you.
Hope this helps.
