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Andover, Massachusetts: what can you build or do?

Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from Andover's published bylaws, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.

Last reviewed 2026-10-05

• Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO)
  Probably not in a residential district, though no bylaw says so directly. Andover's zoning (2022 text, the newest we have) has no short-term rental rule or license and doesn't list short-term rentals as a use; it prohibits any use it doesn't specifically permit, and the 2025 ADU bylaw expressly bars ADU short-term rentals. Confirm with the Building Division before you list a home.Restricted
• Fences
  The Andover zoning text we reviewed (the 2022 recodified bylaw; it may have changed since) sets no general fence height limit or property-line setback, because fences aren't counted as 'structures'. On corner lots, keep anything between 3 and 8 feet tall out of the 25-foot sight triangle. Near wetlands, fences under 7 feet must stay at least 25 feet from the resource area unless the Conservation Commission allows otherwise.Allowed
• Sheds & Accessory Buildings
  In Andover, a shed can go as close as 5 feet to the property line if it's in the rear yard, no more than 1½ stories, covers no more than 30% of the yard area, and doesn't house animals. Anywhere else, it has to meet the district's full setbacks. Under state code, sheds over 200 sq ft need a building permit.Allowed
• Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
  Yes, but only brush and similar yard debris, only between January 15 and April 30, and only with an Andover Fire Department permit plus permission on the day you burn. Burning is allowed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at least 75 feet from any dwelling. Outdoor cooking fires are allowed year-round.Allowed with a permit
• Home-Based Businesses
  Yes. A 'customary home occupation' is allowed by right in Andover's single-residence districts if you live there, use no more than a third of the building's floor area (up to 1,000 sq ft), employ no more than one non-family worker, and keep the home looking residential. You don't get extra sign area for the business.Allowed
• Swimming Pools
  Private pools are allowed in Andover in rear and side yards, but not front yards. They must be at least 10 feet from the rear property line and meet the district's side-yard setback (20, 25 or 30 feet in SRA, SRB and SRC). Near wetlands, pools and pool decks need at least 35 feet from the resource area. State code requires a building permit and a 48-inch barrier.Allowed with a permit
• Building Near the Water (Wetlands Rules)
  Work within 100 feet of a wetland, pond or stream, or within 200 feet of a river, needs a permit from the Andover Conservation Commission under the town's Wetlands Protection Bylaw. New buildings that need a building permit must generally stay 50 feet from the resource area. No vegetation may be removed within 25 feet.Allowed with board review
• Docks, Piers & Floats
  A private dock on an Andover pond, lake or river needs a permit from the Andover Conservation Commission, because the town's Wetlands Protection Bylaw covers building on land under water and banks. Dock filings cost $4 per linear foot ($100 minimum). Boat docks aren't allowed on Haggett's Pond or Fish Brook, which are drinking-water sources.Allowed with board review

We couldn't download Andover's bylaw text for the other 2 topics yet, so we don't cover them rather than guess.