Fence height rules in Medford, Massachusetts
Yes, within height limits, though Medford's zoning has no fence section; the limits come from its yard rules. Fences under 4 feet may sit in the required front yard and in side yards within 15 feet of a street, and fences up to 6 feet in the rest of the required side yard; the ordinance sets no specific rear-yard fence height, and on corner lots nothing may block the 35-foot corner visibility triangle.
| Max height, required front yard | Under 4 feet [1] |
| Max height, side yard within 15 ft of a street line | Under 4 feet [2] |
| Max height, other side yard areas | 6 feet [2] |
| Corner visibility triangle | 35 ft along each curb; keep clear between 2.5 and 7 ft above curb [6] |
| Fence counts as a structure | Yes [5] |
Front yard
Medford's zoning treats a fence as a structure [5], so it normally has to meet yard setbacks. The exception: front yard requirements don't apply to fences, hedges or walls less than four feet above grade [1]. In practice, a fence in the required front yard must stay under 4 feet.
Side yards
Side yard requirements don't apply to fences, hedges or walls less than four feet high within 15 feet of a street line, or up to six feet high elsewhere in the required side yard [2]. So a typical side fence can be 6 feet, stepping down to under 4 feet as it approaches the street. On a corner lot, the side yard next to the street must meet front yard requirements, so treat it like a front yard.
Rear yard
The fence exceptions don't mention rear yards. Because a fence counts as a structure, the rear-yard rules for structures accessory to a one- or two-family home would apply: they may cover up to 25% of the rear yard, and accessory structures are capped at 15 feet in height [3]. That cap wasn't written with fences in mind, so the ordinance doesn't give a clear rear-fence height. The accessory-structure rules also require a 3-foot setback from side and rear lot lines, and the ordinance doesn't say whether that applies to fences. Ask the Building Department before building a tall rear fence or one on the lot line.
Corner lots
On a corner lot, no fence, planting, wall or other structure may block vision within the corner visibility space [4]. That space is the triangle formed by the two curb lines and a line joining points 35 feet from their intersection, between 2.5 and 7 feet above curb level [6].
Permits
The zoning ordinance doesn't set a separate fence permit. Under the state building code, fences 7 feet or less generally don't need a building permit, but zoning height limits still apply. Fences used as pool barriers must also meet state pool barrier rules.
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Next steps
- Find where your required front and side yards fall (your lot's zoning district sets the depths) and plan heights: under 4 ft in the front yard and within 15 ft of the street, up to 6 ft in other side yard areas.
- On a corner lot, keep the 35-foot corner visibility triangle clear between 2.5 and 7 feet above the curb.
- Call the Medford Building Department (781-393-2509) to confirm the height limit for a rear-yard fence, whether fences must be set back from lot lines, and whether your fence needs a permit.
Common questions
- How tall can a fence be in Medford, MA?
- Fences under 4 feet may sit in the required front yard and in side yards within 15 feet of a street, and fences up to 6 feet in the rest of the required side yard. The ordinance sets no specific rear-yard fence height, so ask the Building Department.
- Do I need a permit for a fence in Medford, Massachusetts?
- Medford's zoning doesn't set a separate fence permit. Under the state building code, fences 7 feet or less generally don't need a building permit; confirm with the Medford Building Department.
- What are the corner lot fence rules in Medford, MA?
- On a corner lot, nothing may block the corner visibility triangle formed by the curb lines and points 35 feet from their intersection, between 2.5 and 7 feet above curb level. The street-side side yard is treated like a front yard.
- Can I put a fence on the property line in Medford, Massachusetts?
- It's unclear. Accessory structures need a 3-foot setback from side and rear lot lines, and the ordinance doesn't say whether that applies to fences. Ask the Building Department before building on the lot line.
Massachusetts state rules on fences
Most fence rules in Massachusetts are local, set in your town's zoning bylaw and sometimes historic-district rules. A few state laws apply everywhere:
- Building permit: the State Building Code (780 CMR, 10th edition) does not require a building permit for fences 7 feet high or less. Taller fences need one. Zoning height limits and setbacks still apply, and many towns cap fences at 6 feet.
- Spite fences: under M.G.L. c. 49, §21, a fence that unnecessarily exceeds 6 feet and is maliciously put up or kept to annoy a neighbor is a private nuisance. The neighbor can sue for damages.
- Fence viewers: every town must appoint fence viewers each year (c. 49, §1). Where adjoining owners both enclose and use their land, they share the upkeep of the partition fence equally unless they agree otherwise. If one side won't repair their share, the other can complain to the fence viewers, who can order the repair (c. 49, §§3–4). By statute, a "legal and sufficient" fence is 4 feet high and in good repair (c. 49, §2).
- Pool fences must meet the state pool barrier rules (see Pools).
- Wetlands: fence work in a wetland or within 100 feet of one may need Conservation Commission review.
What the bylaw says
- Sec. 94-4.2.3(2), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Front yard requirements shall not apply to terraces, steps, uncovered porches, or other similar features at or below the elevation of the floor of the first story, nor to fences, hedges, or walls less than four feet above the grade in the required front yard.
- Sec. 94-4.2.4(5), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Side yard requirements shall not apply to terraces, steps or other similar features at or below the elevation of the floor of the first story, nor to fences, hedges, or walls less than four feet above the grade in the required yard within 15 feet of a street line, and not over six feet above the grade in the required yard in all other cases.
- Sec. 94-4.3.1(1), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Structures accessory to one- and two-family dwellings shall not exceed 15 feet in height.
- Sec. 94-6.3.10, Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
In any district, no planting shall be placed or maintained, and no parking space, loading space, fence, building wall or other structure other than necessary retaining walls shall be constructed if such planting or structure thereby obstructs vision at any point within the corner visibility space.
- Sec. 94-12.0, "Structure", Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a bin, bridge, building, fence, flagpole, framework, platform, retaining wall, reviewing stand, sign, stadium, swimming pool, tank, tent, tower, trailer without wheels, trestle, or tunnel.
- Sec. 94-12.0, "Visibility space, corner", Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
On a corner lot the space between a plane tow and one-half feet above curb level and a plane seven feet above curb level and within the triangular area bounded on two sides by the two outer lines or exposed edges of the curbs, or by projection of such lines to their point of intersection, and on the third side by a straight line connecting points on such curb lines (or their projections) each of which is 35 feet distant from the point of intersection of the two curb lines or their projections.