Fence Regulations in Lynn, MA (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Lynn, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Lynn caps fences and retaining walls at 4 feet in a lot's frontage area (both frontages on a corner lot) and 6 feet everywhere behind it, per Section 7.B.2 of the zoning ordinance. Retaining walls can go higher behind the required front setback. Barbed and concertina wire are banned outright.
Lynn Fence & Retaining Wall Heights
Some RestrictionsLynn Zoning Ordinance § 7.B.2-3
2. Fence and wall height maximum a. Fences and retaining walls located in the frontage area of a lot may be up to four feet in height. On corner lots, the frontage area includes both the primary and secondary frontage. Successive retaining walls must be built with a minimum horizontal separation distance of four feet. b. Fences and retaining walls located behind the frontage area, internal to t...
Fence Permit Requirements
Fences up to 7 feet high in Lynn don't need a Building Permit at all, built at the owner's own risk under Section 7.B.1.b. Fences may sit right along any lot line, but posts must face inward and the finished side must face the neighbor or street.
Lynn Fence Permit & Placement Rules
Light RestrictionsLynn Zoning Ordinance § 7.B.1
1. General a. Fences may be placed up to and along any lot line. b. Fences up to 7 feet high do not require a Building Permit and are erected at the property owner’s risk. c. Fence posts or supporting rails must face inward toward the property being fenced and the finished face must be oriented towards the abutting property or thoroughfare.
Retaining Walls
Lynn's Zoning Ordinance caps retaining walls in the frontage area at four feet, requires four feet of horizontal separation between stacked walls, and allows unlimited height behind the required front setback. Inspectional Services enforces the limits under Section 7.B.2.
Lynn Retaining Wall Height & Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsLynn Zoning Ordinance § 7.B.2.a-c
a. Fences and retaining walls located in the frontage area of a lot may be up to four feet in height. On corner lots, the frontage area includes both the primary and secondary frontage. Successive retaining walls must be built with a minimum horizontal separation distance of four feet. b. Fences and retaining walls located behind the frontage area, internal to the lot, may be up to six feet in ...
Material Restrictions
The Lynn Zoning Ordinance bans barbed wire and concertina wire on any lot in the city. Section 7.B.3.b's prohibition sits alongside a companion rule barring fences from drainage and utility easements, both enforced by Inspectional Services.
Lynn Barbed & Concertina Wire Fence Ban
Some RestrictionsLynn Zoning Ordinance § 7.B.3.a-b
a. Fences are prohibited within any existing or required drainage or utility easement. b. Barbed wire and concertina wire are prohibited.