Home › Massachusetts › Weston

Weston, Massachusetts: what can you build or do?

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

Last reviewed 2026-10-05

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  Yes. One accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is allowed by right in Weston's Single Family Residence Districts with a building permit from the Building Inspector. It can be no larger than half the main home's floor area or 900 sq ft, whichever is smaller. A detached ADU must sit in the rear yard, and it can't be used as a short-term rental. If you can't meet the by-right conditions, you need Planning Board site plan approval.Allowed with a permit
• Backyard Chickens
  Likely yes, with a license from the Weston Board of Health. Keeping poultry counts as farming, which Weston's zoning allows by right in Single Family Residence Districts, and the Board of Health requires an annual livestock license that expires December 31. The sources we reviewed don't set a hen limit, rooster rules or coop setbacks, so ask the Board of Health (781-786-5030).Allowed with a permit
• Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO)
  Weston has no short-term rental license or registration in the bylaws we reviewed. Its Zoning By-law prohibits any use it doesn't expressly allow, and short-term rental of a whole house isn't listed, so it's unclear whether renting out your home short-term is allowed. An accessory dwelling unit can never be used as a short-term rental. Ask Inspectional Services before listing your home.Restricted
• Fences
  Weston's Zoning By-law sets no height limit for ordinary fences. A fence 6 ft or lower isn't treated as a "structure," so it can go on the property line. A fence over 6 ft counts as a structure and must meet building setbacks (20 to 45 ft from lot lines, depending on district). Near street corners, nothing over 24 inches is allowed in the sight triangle.Allowed
• Sheds & Accessory Buildings
  Yes, but in Weston a shed is a "structure" and must meet the same zoning setbacks as a house: 20 to 45 ft from side and rear lot lines and 30 to 60 ft from the street, depending on your district. The Zoning By-law sets no special size threshold for sheds. Under the state building code, a one-story shed of 200 sq ft or less doesn't need a building permit.Allowed
• Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
  Brush burning is allowed in Weston only during the open burn season, January 15 to May 1, with a seasonal permit from the Fire Department applied for online each year. On each day you want to burn, you must call 781-786-6101 for permission. The town sources we reviewed don't specifically regulate backyard fire pits.Allowed with a permit
• Home-Based Businesses
  Yes. Weston's Zoning By-law allows home occupations by right in Single Family Residence Districts if the business is run entirely inside your home by a resident. Up to 3 people besides you may work there at one time, and you can have one business vehicle (up to 2 tons). Signs are limited to a 2 sq ft name plate.Allowed
• Swimming Pools
  Yes, with a building permit. Weston's Zoning By-law treats a swimming pool plus a 5-ft apron around the water as a "structure," so the pool and apron must meet the same setbacks as a house: 20 to 45 ft from lot lines, depending on district. Pool lights must be off by 11:00 p.m., and barrier fencing follows the state building code.Allowed with a permit
• Building Near the Water (Wetlands Rules)
  Work near water in Weston needs a permit from the Conservation Commission under the town's Wetlands Protection By-law. It covers wetlands, ponds and streams, plus a 100-ft buffer zone and land within 200 ft of rivers. Within 25 ft of a resource area, almost nothing is allowed without a waiver. Mapped wetlands and floodplain districts also strictly limit new buildings and expansions under zoning.Allowed with board review
• Docks, Piers & Floats
  Weston has no dock-specific bylaw. But building on a pond, river or the land under it, including driving piles or placing objects in water, needs a Conservation Commission permit under the town's Wetlands Protection By-law. The local sources we reviewed set no size limits for docks; state Chapter 91 licensing may also apply.Allowed with board review