Town Government
North Andover Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of North Andover’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect Lake Cochichewick and the town’s wetlands, weigh in on historic places, and guide services for residents. These are also the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
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 North Andover’s wetlands and the Lake Cochichewick watershed.
- Historical Commission helps protect the town’s historic buildings and the Old Center.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, permits, and public health rules.
- Council on Aging guides services for older residents.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see northandoverma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Select Board office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your town.
Sources
North Andover government website (northandoverma.gov). Verified July 2026.
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 Town Meeting vote.
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 Town Meeting: 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 Town Meeting.
Youth and Recreation Council. A field, a court, a playground, or a park. The money to build one is voted by Town Meeting.
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 North Andover.