Fence Regulations in Cambridge, MA (2026)
2 verified fence regulations for Cambridge, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Within Cambridge's Parkway Overlay District, land the ordinance designates near arterial parkways such as the Fresh Pond Reservation, Zoning Ordinance Section 20.65 caps any front- or side-lot-line fence within 25 feet of a public right-of-way at 4 feet high and 30 percent opaque, and bans chain-link and wire fencing outright.
Cambridge Parkway Overlay Fence Limits
Some RestrictionsCambridge Zoning Ordinance § 20.65 (Fences, Parkway Overlay District)
20.65 Fences. In order to maintain a feeling of openness, to facilitate pedestrian enjoyment and use, and to maximize scenic views, fences along the front and side lot lines shall comply with the following standards: 1. No fence along a front or side lot line and within twenty-five (25) feet of a public right of way shall be more than four (4) feet in height from the curb level of the street or...
Material Restrictions
Cambridge prohibits barbed wire and razor wire in residential zones; historic districts restrict materials to wood, wrought iron, and period-appropriate options subject to Commission review.
Cambridge Fence Material Rules
Some RestrictionsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 49, § 21 (Fences Deemed a Private Nuisance — Spite Fence)
Section 21. A fence or other structure in the nature of a fence which unnecessarily exceeds six feet in height and is maliciously erected or maintained for the purpose of annoying the owners or occupants of adjoining property shall be deemed a private nuisance. Any such owner or occupant injured in the comfort or enjoyment of his estate thereby may have an action of tort for damages under chapt...