Bolthole Index

Essex County, Massachusetts

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Beverly, Massachusetts

Beverly, Massachusetts, in Essex County, issues building permits through Municipal Inspections, with applications submitted online.12 Beverly administers its own zoning, while the Beverly Board of Health handles local septic matters under Massachusetts Title 5.34 Stored recreational equipment cannot be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping in the residential districts covered by Beverly’s rule.5

At a glance

Building permits
Municipal Inspections; online applications12
Zoning
City zoning; uses and dimensions vary by district3
Septic
Beverly Board of Health; Massachusetts Title 5 framework4
RV living
Living in stored recreational equipment prohibited in covered residential districts5
Accessory dwelling
Protected Use ADUs allowed conditionally in single-family residential districts; building permit required6
Building permit fee
$15 per $1,000 of work; $65 minimum7

Who to call

Building permits

Municipal Inspections/Building Department

Building permits, construction inspections and enforcement of Beverly zoning.

978-921-6025

8 Dane Street Beverly, MA 01915

Online permits →

Zoning

Planning & Development Department

Planning questions and referral for parcel-specific zoning review.

978-921-6000

191 Cabot Street Beverly, MA 01915

Septic permits

Beverly Health Department

Local septic questions through the Board of Health.

978-921-8591

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Beverly means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Beverly, MA?

Beverly Municipal Inspections reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects construction, including new structures, additions, alterations and repairs.1 Massachusetts’s state building code applies within Beverly and is enforced by local inspectors.8 Beverly’s building permit fee for new construction, additions, alterations, repairs and demolition is $15 per $1,000, with a $65 minimum.7 Starting work without a building permit doubles the original fee, subject to a maximum additional fee of $1,000.7 An agricultural use allowed by zoning is not an established exemption from building-code permitting.9

Who issues building permits in Beverly, and how do you apply?

Contact Beverly Municipal Inspections/Building Department for building permits and construction inspections.1 Beverly accepts building permit applications online and no longer accepts paper building permit applications.2 Applicants register for the online system, where plans, pictures and specifications can be attached and applications routed electronically between departments.2 Beverly’s online system also lets applicants check inspection results and parcel permit history, making it useful when reviewing an existing property.2 The permit holder must call Municipal Inspections to arrange the inspections listed on the inspection record card received with permit approval.10

Does Beverly have zoning, and what does it mean for your lot?

Beverly administers its own zoning ordinance, with permitted uses and dimensional requirements varying by district.3 Ask Municipal Inspections to review the proposed use against Beverly zoning before committing to a building design.1 In Beverly’s R-90 One-Family District, agricultural, horticultural and floricultural uses are permitted by right on lots of at least 5 acres, including expansion or reconstruction of related existing structures.9 That district-specific agricultural provision does not establish a building-permit exemption.9 We could not confirm a minimum dwelling size or definitive lot-coverage requirement; ask Municipal Inspections for the standards applicable to the parcel’s district.1

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in Beverly?

Beverly’s Board of Health is the local authority for on-site sewage matters under Massachusetts Title 5 and publishes septic information and a soil test application.4 Contact the Beverly Health Department about the proposed site and the required septic approvals before designing an off-sewer home.11 We could not confirm Beverly’s complete septic permit and inspection requirements or an off-grid sanitation allowance; ask the Health Department to resolve those questions for the property.11 For a public-sewer connection, Beverly requires a written permit before connecting to or disturbing the sewer, with inspection and supervision by the Director and Plumbing Inspector.12

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Beverly?

Beverly prohibits living, sleeping or housekeeping in major recreational equipment stored on a lot in the residential districts covered by the rule, including R-90.5 The recreational-equipment rule does not establish the answer for every Beverly zoning district or for general temporary camping.5 We could not confirm a specific tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy rule; ask Municipal Inspections about the proposed structure and use.1 Beverly does allow Protected Use accessory dwelling units conditionally in single-family residential zoning districts, but a building permit is required, applicable utility services must be active and the ADU cannot be used for transient lodging.6

Building a home in Beverly: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Confirm the parcel’s zoning district and proposed use with Municipal Inspections; Beverly’s use and dimensional rules vary by district.13
  2. Establish the wastewater route: discuss on-site sewage with the Beverly Health Department or obtain the required written approval for a public-sewer connection.412
  3. Register for Beverly’s online building permit system and submit the plans and specifications for review.2 Include the applicable Stretch Energy Code Compliance Checklist with the building permit application.1
  4. Arrange the required construction inspections using the inspection record card.10
  5. Resolve occupancy approval before moving into new construction; Beverly generally issues certificates of occupancy for new construction and changes in use.13

What should you check before buying land in Beverly?

Ask Beverly Municipal Inspections to resolve the parcel’s zoning and building questions, including any floodplain-development or driveway-access approvals that we could not confirm.1 For a private well, Massachusetts allows cities and towns to require a local site permit; ask the Beverly Health Department whether Beverly requires one for the proposed well.1411 Beverly also regulates subdivision of land, so a proposal to divide a property needs a separate planning review rather than an assumption that building approval settles the lot split.1516 For land outside Beverly, consult the Essex County guide and identify the municipality responsible for the address.17

Watch-outs

  • Beverly’s residential recreational-equipment rule prohibits occupancy even where storage is allowed; storage permission is not permission to live in an RV.5
  • A Beverly ADU cannot be used for transient lodging; we could not confirm a general short-term-rental rule for other dwellings.6
  • We could not confirm Beverly’s complete septic permit requirements or private-well site-permit requirement; contact the Beverly Health Department before committing to an off-sewer project.11

Sources

  1. Municipal Inspections/Building Department (beverlyma.gov)
  2. File A Permit (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  3. Table of Contents - City of Beverly, MA (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic Systems (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  5. Article VII: District Regulations - City of Beverly, MA (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article IX: Special Density and Dimensional Regulations - City of Beverly, MA (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  7. Building Permit Fees (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  8. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 143, Section 3A: Enforcement of state building code (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Article VII: District Regulations - City of Beverly, MA (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  10. Municipal Inspections / Building Department (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  11. Beverly Health Department (beverlyma.gov)
  12. Chapter 227: Sewers - City of Beverly, MA (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  13. beverlyma.gov (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  14. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 21G, Section 20 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Table of Contents - City of Beverly, MA (Beverly), quoted and re-checked
  16. Massachusetts General Laws c. 41, § 81O (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. City of Salem Inspectional Services / Building Department (2026 county census)

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Beverly

Beverly’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Beverly city limits.

    • The permit holder must call Municipal Inspections to arrange required inspections; required inspections are listed on the inspection record card.
    “Yes. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to call the Department of Municipal Inspections to arrange for the required inspections. Required inspections are indicated on the inspection record card, which you receive when your permit is approved.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    New construction, additions, decks, changes in use, and wood stoves inside Beverly city limits.

    • Certificates are generally issued only for new construction or changes in use; they are not required or issued for roofing or siding.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued when work is near completion and the structure can be occupied safely; it has an expiration date and lists remaining work.
    “No. A Certificate of Occupancy is generally issued only for new construction (new houses, additions, decks, etc.) or for changes in use of an existing area (finishing an attic, etc.). Certificates are also issued for wood stoves. Certificates are not required or issued for roofing, siding, etc.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Beverly city limits; Beverly adopts and administers Chapter 300 Zoning.

    • Specific uses and dimensional requirements vary by zoning district.
    “The City of Beverly, Massachusetts is hereby divided into 18 zoning districts to be designated as follows:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Beverly city limits.

    • The code identifies 18 zoning districts and separate overlay districts.
    “The City of Beverly, Massachusetts is hereby divided into 18 zoning districts to be designated as follows:”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Living, sleeping, or housekeeping in major recreational equipment stored in Beverly residential districts, including R-90.

    • The quoted rule applies to the named residential districts and contains storage-location exceptions: carport, enclosed building, side yard, or rear yard.
    • This claim does not establish a citywide rule for every zoning district.
    “Special requirements. No major recreational equipment, as defined herein, shall be parked or stored in the district, except in a carport, or enclosed buildings, or in the side yard or rear yard area. No such equipment shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes on the lot on which it is stored.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units on lots in Beverly single-family residential zoning districts.

    • A Protected Use ADU must be on a lot in a Single-Family Residential Zoning District.
    • Only one Protected Use ADU, Accessory Apartment, or other Local ADU is generally allowed on a lot, subject to the ordinance's state-law exception.
    • All applicable utility services must be active.
    • An ADU may not be used for transient lodging.
    • A building permit is required.

    maximum gross floor area: the smaller of one-half of the Principal Dwelling's Gross Floor Area or 1,000 square feet (Protected Use ADU definition)

    “Purpose. The purpose of § 300-55 is to allow for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), as defined under MGL c. 40A, § 1A, to be built as-of-right in Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts in accordance with Section 3 of the Zoning Act (MGL c. 40A), as amended by Section 8 of Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024, and the regulations under 760 CMR 71.00: Protected Use Accessory Dwelling Units.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site sewage systems inside Beverly city limits.

    • Massachusetts Title 5 is the state regulatory framework; Beverly's Board of Health exercises local-health-authority powers and publishes septic information and applications.
    “Septic Regulations: Title 5 - Massachusetts Septic System Regulations Title 5 System Inspectors Click here Soil Test Application”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Building sewer connections inside Beverly city limits where a public sewer is used.

    • A written permit is required before connecting to or disturbing a public sewer.
    • The connection is inspected and must be made under supervision of the Director and Plumbing Inspector.
    • The opened source did not establish a universal distance-to-sewer connection mandate for every new home.
    “Permit required. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the Director of Engineering, Commissioner of Public Services, Public Works, or his authorized deputy, agent, or representative.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Beverly city limits.

    • The adopted code contains Chapter 375, Subdivision of Land, with §§ 375-1 through 375-43.
    “Chapter 375 Subdivision of Land (§ 375-1 – § 375-43)”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permits and related permits inside Beverly city limits.

    • As of December 1, 2024, a $25 administration fee applies to electrical, plumbing, and gas paper permits.
    • New construction, additions, alterations, repairs, and demolition are charged $15 per $1,000; minimum building fee is $65.
    • Work without a permit is charged twice the original fee, with a maximum additional fee of $1,000.
    • Certificate of occupancy fee is $0 where issued.

    building permit fee: per 15 USD per $1,000 (minimum fee $65) · certificate of occupancy fee: 0 USD · paper electrical/plumbing/gas administration fee: 25 USD (effective December 1, 2024)

    “New Construction, Additions, Alterations, Repairs, Demolition $15 per $1,000”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building, electrical, gas, plumbing, and mechanical permit applications inside Beverly city limits.

    • Applicants must register for the online system.
    • Paper building permit applications are no longer accepted.
    • Plans, pictures, and specifications may be attached; interdepartmental routing occurs electronically; inspection results and parcel permit history can be viewed online.
    “The City of Beverly is pleased to offer residents, organizations and businesses the ability to apply, pay for, and receive building, electrical, gas, plumbing and mechanical permits online. Users will also have the ability to check the status of permits and inspections.”

Rules another office applies inside Beverly

Beverly does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural, horticultural, and floricultural uses in the R-90 One-Family District.

    • The use is permitted by right with a minimum lot size of five acres; expansion or reconstruction of existing related structures is included.
    • This claim does not establish exemption from building-code permitting.

    minimum lot size: >= 5 acres

    “Agricultural, horticultural, and floricultural (as defined in MGL Chapter 61A) uses and expansion or reconstruction of existing structures relating thereto, permitted with a minimum lot size of five acres.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Beverly or Essex County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder licensing exemption inside Beverly city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Beverly city limits, including residential zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Beverly city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Beverly city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Beverly city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Beverly publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Essex County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Essex County: county rules, score and offices