Revere's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Revere, Massachusetts, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Fence Permit Requirements

In Revere, a fence counts as a regulated 'structure' under the zoning code, so no fence may be built, altered or used until the building inspector issues a permit. The zoning ordinance defines structure to expressly include fences alongside buildings, sheds, signs and swimming pools, closing off any argument that fencing sits outside the permit system.

Key details: Permit authority: Building inspector, City of Revere. Governing definition: "Structure" expressly includes fences (§17.08.840). Application review: City planner, engineer, DPW, board of health (14 days). Maximum fine: $300 per offense, each day separate (§1.16.010).

Revere enforces Title 17 permit failures through the citywide general penalty at Section 1.16.010: a fine of not more than $300 for each offense, with every day the unpermitted fence remains in place counting as a separate offense. The building inspector can also withhold a certificate of occupancy or later permits until the fence is brought into compliance or removed.

Height Limits

In Revere's residential zoning districts, no fence, wall, hedge or sign can rise above three feet within the sight-triangle at a street intersection, measured twenty feet back along each street line. The same three-foot cap applies for the first fifteen feet of a fence along a shared driveway lot line, keeping sightlines clear for drivers.

Key details: Height cap at corners: 3 feet above curb level. Sight-triangle depth: 20 feet along each street line. Shared-driveway cap: 3 feet for first 15 feet. Exempt objects: Single post or single tree only. Applies to: Residential districts, city-controlled streets only.

A fence, wall, hedge or sign built over three feet inside a corner sight triangle or a shared-driveway strip violates Revere Municipal Code § 17.24.150 and is a zoning violation under Section 17.04.030, which can void the property's certificate of occupancy and require the obstruction's removal at the owner's expense. The rule is enforced by the city's building inspector, who may order the fence cut down or removed on inspection or neighbor complaint.

Material Restrictions

Revere's zoning table bans barbed wire and any fence with pointed ends across eleven of the city's districts, covering every residential zone (RA, RA1, RB, RB1, RC, RC1, RC2, RC3) plus the neighborhood business, general business and central business districts. The Wonderland overlay district repeats an identical ban.

Key details: Banned materials: Barbed wire, pointed-end fencing. Districts covered: RA, RA1, RB, RB1, RC, RC1-3, NB, GB, CB. Overlay duplicate: WTODOD repeats the ban, 10-ft height cap. Where it's written: Note i to § 17.24.010 dimensional table.

Installing barbed wire or a pointed-picket fence in any of the eleven listed districts violates Revere Municipal Code § 17.24.010's dimensional-table notes and triggers the general zoning violation provision at Section 17.04.030, which automatically voids the property's certificate of occupancy for as long as the noncompliant fence remains. The building inspector can order the fencing removed or replaced, and the owner must reapply for a compliant certificate of occupancy afterward.

This is one of the stricter rules in Revere's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Revere's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Revere is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Revere can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.