Beverly, MA
Granite hills, estate walls and a coastline. Beverly has it all.
Beverly sits on Cape Ann granite: steep, rocky hills with ledge showing through, and the Great Estates of Beverly Farms and Prides Crossing built right into it. Stonework here should look like it belongs to that landscape.
About 3 miles from our Danvers shop.
Building in Beverly
Worker cottages to Great Estates.
Downtown and the inner neighborhoods were built up in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including worker cottages near the Bass River. North Beverly filled in after Route 128. Beverly Farms and Prides Crossing are known for Great Estate summer houses, many set behind imposing roadside stone walls.
The city's own preservation plan says central and eastern Beverly is hilly and rocky, and that estates were built 'despite, and even featuring, the rough granite topography.' That's still the right idea: work with the rock.
The city is largely built out, so new work tends to be on smaller or more constrained lots. Design matters more when there's less room.
Know before you build
Beverly's wetlands zones, and its fence rules.
Beverly's own wetlands ordinance is stricter than the state act, and the city publishes clear fence rules. From the city's documents:
- 01
25-foot no-disturbance zone
Within 25 feet of a wetland, no disturbance of any kind: no grading, landscaping, vegetation removal, pruning, filling, excavation or driveway building.
Source: Beverly Wetlands Protection Regulations (Ch. 565) ↗ - 02
50-foot no-build zone
Within 50 feet, most buildings and structures are prohibited. Around vernal pools, the whole 100 feet is no-disturbance. Waivers can be requested.
Source: Beverly Wetlands Protection Regulations (Ch. 565) ↗ - 03
Fence permits and spite fences
Fences up to 7 feet don't need a building permit. The city notes a fence over 6 feet can be considered a spite fence under state law, and recommends getting your neighbor's OK for anything taller.
Source: City of Beverly: Fences ↗ - 04
Corner lots
Near an intersection, zoning bars anything that blocks the view between 3 and 8 feet above the street within a 25-foot triangle, so corner fences may be limited to 3 feet there.
Source: City of Beverly: Fences ↗ - 05
Outdoor watering follows the drought level
Beverly's water comes through the Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board, and outdoor use follows the state drought level. In 2026, nonessential outdoor watering was banned under a critical drought. Check the city's current status before seeding.
Source: City of Beverly: Water ↗
What we build here
Services in Beverly.
Stonework suits Beverly's granite landscape: patios, walls, walks and fences, plus kitchens and pools.
All over Beverly.
Harbor to Hale Street.
- Downtown
- Ryal Side
- North Beverly
- Centerville
- Beverly Cove
- Montserrat
- Prospect Hill
- Beverly Farms
- Prides Crossing
Can I build a patio near a wetland in Beverly?
Not within 50 feet in most cases, since that's the no-build zone, and nothing at all within 25 feet. Waivers can be requested, and we design around the lines first.
Do I need a permit for a 6-foot fence?
No. Beverly requires a permit only over 7 feet. Over 6 feet, the city recommends your neighbor's approval.
Can you match an old estate wall in Beverly Farms?
Yes. We build granite and fieldstone walls to match existing work.
Where the local information on this page comes from
- Beverly Wetlands Protection Regulations (Ch. 565)
- Beverly Conservation Commission
- Beverly Historic District Commission
- City of Beverly: Fences
- City of Beverly: Water
- Beverly Historic Preservation Plan (2020)
- Beverly Snow & Ice Information
- Lynch Park resilient design (2024)
Rules change. Always confirm with the town before starting work. We check for every project.
Let's talk about your Beverly project.
Estimates are free. We'll call you back to set up a time to see the property.