City Government
Beverly Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Council and the School Committee, much of Beverly’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and historic places, license the city’s businesses, and guide services for older residents. These are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
In a strong-mayor city most members are appointed by the Mayor, many subject to Council review, and serve fixed terms. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Beverly’s wetlands, its harbor shoreline, and its open space.
- Historic District Commission helps protect the city’s historic buildings and districts.
- Licensing Board regulates liquor, entertainment, and other licenses.
- Human Rights Committee connects residents to civil-rights agencies and promotes equity across the city.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see beverlyma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the city’s boards and commissions page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Mayor’s office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment. The Council reviews these appointments and can vote one down within thirty days.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your city.
What this seat decides
Your other boards
Board of Health. Tobacco and nicotine sales, flavored products, food permits, and housing conditions. It can pass a binding regulation on its own, without a vote of the City Council.
Planning Board. Where housing or businesses can be built, height limits, and a specific development. It holds the public hearing, and the zoning change itself is voted by the City Council: two thirds for most changes, a simple majority for the housing changes the law lists.
Conservation Commission. A stream, a wetland, a marsh, or a pond.
Library Trustees. Library hours, programs, and policy. The money it spends is voted by the City Council.
Parks and Recreation Commission. A field, a court, a playground, or a park. The money to build one is voted by the City Council.
Historical Commission. An old building, and how it can be protected and preserved.
Serving on a board is one of the most direct ways to shape Beverly.
MassCivics last checked this page on October 7, 2026.
Sources
- City records: City of Beverly, Beverly government website (beverlyma.gov).
- Charter and bylaws: Massachusetts General Court, Acts of 2023, Chapter 48, the Beverly Home Rule Charter, as of September 29, 2023.