It depends on the fence height and the address. Each city and town around Boston sets its own rule, and historic districts add a design review. We check the rule for your address before work starts.
Do I need a permit to build or replace a fence?
In Boston, permits are handled by the Inspectional Services Department. Taller fences generally need a building permit, and a like-for-like replacement can still need one. Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Newton and Quincy each have their own height limits and paperwork. Our town pages list the office for each.
How tall can my fence be? Is 6 feet allowed?
Six feet is the common backyard height in this area, and front yards are usually limited to a lower height. The exact numbers come from your city's zoning code. Massachusetts law also treats a fence that needlessly exceeds six feet and was built to annoy a neighbor as a private nuisance (General Laws chapter 49, section 21).
How close to the property line can I build? Do I need a survey?
Most fences here are built on or just inside the owner's side of the line. If the boundary is not marked or you and your neighbor disagree, get a plot plan or a survey before the posts go in. Moving a fence later costs far more than the survey.
I live in a historic district. What can I build?
Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the South End and other Boston historic districts require approval from the Boston Landmarks Commission before a fence is built or changed. Materials such as vinyl and chain link are often not approved where they face the street. Wood and ornamental metal are the usual choices.
Can my condo association or HOA restrict my fence?
Yes. Association rules can limit height, material and color on top of the city's rules. Get approval in writing before ordering materials.
We are adding a pool. What fence does code require?
Massachusetts requires a barrier around a pool, with a minimum height, limits on gaps and a self-closing, self-latching gate. The inspector checks the fence before the pool is signed off, so plan the fence with the pool, not after it. Ask your building department for the current numbers.
Who calls 811 before digging, me or the contractor?
Whoever does the digging. Massachusetts law requires the excavator to notify Dig Safe at least 72 hours before digging, not counting weekends and holidays (General Laws chapter 82, section 40A). When we install the fence, we make that call. Dig Safe does not mark private lines such as sprinklers, lighting wire or a line to a shed, so tell us about those.
My contractor wants to skip the permit and reuse the old holes. What is the risk?
If a permit was required and nobody pulled one, the city can order the work stopped or the fence changed, and the owner is the one who answers for it. It can also come up when you sell the house.
The city says my existing fence breaks the current rules. Can I just repair it?
Often a repair is allowed and a full replacement has to meet the current rules, but that is the building department's decision. Ask them before you choose between repair and replacement.
The fastest way to get a real number is a free on-site estimate. Call (617) 917-2681 or text us a photo of the fence line.