Can I run a business from home in Andover, Massachusetts?
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 in SRA, SRB, SRC | Yes, by right (customary home occupation and professional home office) [2] |
| Who can run it | A person living on the premises [1] |
| Max floor area | 33⅓% of the building's gross floor area, up to 1,000 sq ft [1] |
| Non-family employees | No more than 1 [6] |
| Signs | No extra sign area for a home occupation; up to 15 sq ft of exterior signs total without a permit [4] |
| Parking (home occupation) | 2 spaces per residence plus 1 per employee [5] |
| Professional home office (physician, lawyer, dentist) | Up to 3 non-resident technical employees; up to 33⅓% of floor area [3] |
These rules come from the 2022 recodified Zoning Bylaw (adopted 2023), the newest full text we have, and may have changed since.
Customary home occupations
Andover's Zoning Bylaw lets a person who lives on the premises run a home occupation in rooms of the house or an accessory building [1]. The Table of Use Regulations allows it by right (no special permit) in the SRA, SRB and SRC residential districts, and also in the GB, MU, IG and IA districts [2]. The business may not [6]:
- use more than 33⅓% of the building's gross floor area, with a cap of 1,000 sq ft
- change the residential character of the property
- create noise, heat, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, electrical interference or other effects noticeable at the property line that aren't normal for a home
- employ more than one person who isn't part of the resident family
- involve parking commercial vehicles on site, except as Sec. 3.2.1 allows (a truck of up to three-quarter-ton capacity used to get to work and kept in a closed garage; other commercial vehicles need a Zoning Board of Appeals special permit)
- be an adult use
- generate unusual solid waste or sewage
Professional home offices
A resident physician, lawyer or dentist may have an office in the home with up to three non-resident technical employees, using no more than a third of the home's floor area [3]. This is also allowed by right in residential districts.
Signs and parking
A home occupation doesn't earn extra signage. Exterior signs up to 15 square feet in total don't need a permit, but no more is allowed because of the business [4]. The parking table calls for 2 spaces per residence plus one per employee for a home occupation [5].
Other uses
A small family day care home (six or fewer non-resident children) is allowed by right in residential districts; state law also protects licensed family child care.
See how Andover compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on home-based businesses →
Next steps
- Check your plan against the home-occupation limits: you live there, no more than a third of the floor area (max 1,000 sq ft), and at most one non-family employee.
- Make sure you have parking for 2 cars plus 1 per employee, and keep exterior signs within 15 sq ft total.
- Ask the Building Division (978-623-8620) to confirm the use fits, especially if you'll have customers visiting or need building changes.
- If you'll operate under a name other than your own, file a business certificate (DBA) with the Andover Town Clerk.
Common questions
- Can I run a business from my home in Andover, Massachusetts?
- Yes. A customary home occupation is allowed by right in Andover's SRA, SRB and SRC residential districts if you live there and keep the home looking residential. The rules come from the 2022 zoning text, which may have changed since.
- How much of my house can I use for a home business in Andover, Massachusetts?
- No more than 33⅓% of the building's gross floor area, up to 1,000 sq ft.
- Can I have employees for a home business in Andover, Massachusetts?
- A home occupation may employ no more than one person who isn't part of the resident family. A resident physician, lawyer or dentist may have up to three non-resident technical employees.
- Can I put up a sign for my home business in Andover, Massachusetts?
- A home occupation gets no extra sign area. Exterior signs up to 15 square feet in total don't need a permit, but no more is allowed because of the business.
Massachusetts state rules for home businesses
Massachusetts has no general state law on home occupations. Whether you can run a business from home, and what limits apply (employees, signs, client visits, parking), is set by your town's zoning bylaw. State law does protect some home-based uses and add a few requirements:
- Family child care is protected: a licensed family child care home or large family child care home (licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care) is an allowed use everywhere. Towns may not prohibit or regulate it through zoning (M.G.L. c. 40A, §3). A family child care home serves up to 6 children under 16, counting the provider's own children who are cared for there.
- The "Dover Amendment" (also c. 40A, §3) bars zoning from prohibiting religious or nonprofit educational uses and child care facilities. Towns can still apply reasonable rules on bulk, height, setbacks, open space and parking. This mainly matters for institutions, not typical home offices.
- Business certificate ("DBA"): if you do business under any name other than your own legal name, you must file a business certificate with the city or town clerk where your office is located (M.G.L. c. 110, §5).
- Farm stands and agriculture get zoning protection only on qualifying farm parcels (generally 5+ acres, or 2+ acres with $1,000 per acre in yearly sales).
- State licensing for specific trades (cosmetology, food production, etc.) applies no matter where you work.
What the bylaw says
- Sec. 10.0 Definitions, Customary Home Occupation, Re-Codified Andover Zoning Bylaw (March 21, 2022 text, adopted as new Article VIII at 2023 ATM) - town PDF, p. 124
Use of a room or rooms in a dwelling or accessory building operated by a person residing on the premises for the practice of a home occupation, provided that any associated signage conforms to Section 5.2 and the practice does not involve: • The use of more than 33 1/3 percent of the gross floor area of the building up to a maximum of 1,000 gross square feet;
- Appendix A, Table 1, F. Accessory Uses, items 3 and 5, Re-Codified Andover Zoning Bylaw (March 21, 2022 text, adopted as new Article VIII at 2023 ATM) - town PDF, p. 143
3. Customary home occupation Y Y Y N N N Y Y Y Y N N 4. Family dwelling unit ZBA ZBA ZBA N ZBA N ZBA ZBA ZBA ZBA ZBA ZBA 5. Professional home office Y Y Y N N N Y Y Y Y Y Y
- Sec. 10.0 Definitions, Professional Home Office, Re-Codified Andover Zoning Bylaw (March 21, 2022 text, adopted as new Article VIII at 2023 ATM) - town PDF, p. 132
Office in a dwelling for the practice of a resident physician, lawyer, or dentist, provided that not more than three non-resident people are regularly employed there in a technical capacity, and that the use occupies not more than 33 1/3 percent of the total floor area of the dwelling.
- Sec. 5.2.5.2(d) Signs allowed without a permit, Re-Codified Andover Zoning Bylaw (March 21, 2022 text, adopted as new Article VIII at 2023 ATM) - town PDF, p. 28
One or more exterior signs not exceeding 15 square feet in aggregate area do not require sign permits. Each residential unit in multiple-family residences and each unit in multiple-unit nonresidential properties may erect such signs. No additional signs are allowed beyond the 15 square feet in aggregate area because of the existence of a customary home occupation at a residence.
- Appendix A, Table 3, Table of Off-Street Parking Requirements, F.2, Re-Codified Andover Zoning Bylaw (March 21, 2022 text, adopted as new Article VIII at 2023 ATM) - town PDF, p. 148
2. Customary home occupation 2 parking spaces per residence and one parking space per employee
- Sec. 10.0 Definitions, Customary Home Occupation, Re-Codified Andover Zoning Bylaw (March 21, 2022 text, adopted as new Article VIII at 2023 ATM) - town PDF, p. 124
• Alteration of the residential character of the premises; • Noise, heat, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical or electronic interference, including interference with radio or television reception, or other objectionable effects discernible at the property line not normally associated with residential use; • The employment of more than one person not a member of the resident family;