ANDOVER — Andover citizens will be able to vote to approve a new Camping Ordinance at Town Meeting on March 11, 2025. The intent of the new Camping Ordinance is to describe an opportunity for noncommercial recreational use of a property, while maintaining the health and safety of residents and the community.

The Town allows camping by residents on their own property, as well as nonresidents on those properties, but this ordinance will put some limitations on landowners allowing “camping as a substitute for a permanent residence” or functionally hosting a commercial campground in violation of Andover’s zoning and performance standards for commercial use. To that end, three types of camping are proposed. 

The first is “temporary camping,” in which anyone may camp for 14 days a year on a property, with the landowner’s permission. The second is “extended camping” for more than 14 days on the same site. This requires the landowner to apply for a camping permit and obtain approval by the Town’s designated Health Officer/Building Inspector of the sanitary and safety conditions at the site. The third is “camping associated with the construction of a permitted building,” which allows a landowner to apply for a camping permit valid for up to one year, as long as substantial progress is being made on the construction of a permanent homestead.

Public hearings were held on January 14 and 28. The full text of the proposed Camping Ordinance is available on the andover-nh.gov website, or a hard copy may be obtained at Town Hall.