How Somerville Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide
Somerville maintains 115 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Somerville falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Fence Requirements
Somerville fences must meet zoning, building code, and historic preservation requirements, with finished-side-out orientation, property-line setbacks, and permit and survey compliance.
Key details: Height residential: 4 ft front, 6 ft sides/rear. Finished side: Faces outward. Historic review: HPC in designated districts. Tree protection: Somerville tree ordinance. DigSafe: 811, 72 hours notice.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls over 4 feet require a Somerville building permit and engineered plans, with drainage, property-line, and historic-district review considerations under the Massachusetts Building Code.
Key details: Permit trigger: Over 4 ft or surcharge. Code: 780 CMR. Engineer required: Walls over 4 ft. Drainage: Weep holes and backdrain. Failure fine: From 300 dollars.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
This is one of the stricter rules in Somerville's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Height Limits
Somerville zoning limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards, with corner-lot sight-triangle rules and special permit options for taller fences.
Key details: Front yard max: 4 feet. Side/rear max: 6 feet. Corner visibility: 30 inches in sight triangle. Taller fences: Special permit needed. Measurement from: Natural ground level.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Permit Requirements
Somerville requires a building permit for most fence installations, with historic districts adding a Historic Preservation Commission review step for visible exterior fencing.
Key details: Permit issuer: Inspectional Services. Historic districts: HPC review required. Required on plan: Height, materials, location. No-permit fine: From 300 dollars. Finished side: Must face outward.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Material Restrictions
Somerville restricts barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing in residential areas, with additional historic-district material and finish reviews for local historic district properties.
Key details: Barbed wire residential: Prohibited. Razor wire residential: Prohibited. Electrified residential: Prohibited. Historic review: Material and finish. Non-compliance fine: From 300 dollars.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Somerville actively enforces its material restrictions requirements.
Pool Barriers
Pool barriers in Somerville must meet 780 CMR requirements, including 48-inch minimum fence height, self-closing self-latching gates, and non-climbable design for swimming pools over 24 inches deep.
Key details: Min barrier height: 48 inches. Max opening: 4 inches. Gate hardware: Self-close, self-latch. Latch height: 54 inches above grade. Code: 780 CMR.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Compared to other cities, Somerville takes a harder line on pool barriers. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Neighbor Fence Rules
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 49 governs partition fences between neighbors, and Somerville follows the state rule that the finished side faces the neighbor's property.
Key details: Governing law: MGL Chapter 49. Finished side: Faces neighbor. Spite fence rule: MGL c.49 s.21. Cost-sharing disputes: Board of Fence Viewers. Shared fence: Requires written agreement.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
The Bottom Line
Somerville is tougher than many cities when it comes to fence regulations. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Somerville, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
All of the above reflects Somerville's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.