Fence Regulations in New Bedford, MA (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for New Bedford, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
On a corner lot in a New Bedford residence district, Zoning Section 2740 caps fences, walls, and structures at three and a half feet inside the sight-triangle formed by the two intersecting streets, and bans hedges or trees that block a driver's view there. The triangle runs 20 feet along each street line from the corner.
New Bedford Corner Lot Fence Height Limit
Some RestrictionsNew Bedford Zoning Ordinance § 2740
2740. Vision Clearance on Corner Lots in Residence Districts. On a corner lot no fence, wall or structure more than three and one-half (3½) feet high above the plane of the established grades of the streets shall be erected on a front or side yard herein established which is included within the street lines of the intersecting streets and a straight line connecting said street lines at points w...
Fence Permit Requirements
New Bedford does not require a permit to build an ordinary residential fence, except within the city's Floodplain Overlay District. Section 4478 of the Code of Ordinances requires a permit for all proposed development in that overlay district and expressly lists fences among the covered work. The Inspector of Buildings administers the program citywide.
Fence Permits in New Bedford's Floodplain District
Light RestrictionsNew Bedford Code of Ordinances § 4478
4478. Permits are required for all proposed development in the Floodplain Overlay District. The City of New Bedford requires a permit for all proposed construction or other development in the floodplain overlay district, including new construction or changes to existing buildings, placement of manufactured homes, placement of agricultural facilities, fences, sheds, storage facilities or drillin...
Neighbor Fence Rules
Massachusetts law makes neighbors jointly responsible for partition fences on a shared property line, and New Bedford implements that system locally: the mayor appoints two or more fence viewers each April, confirmed by the city council, to serve one-year terms and resolve disputes between abutting owners over building or paying for a boundary fence.
New Bedford Fence Viewers Settle Boundary Fences
Light RestrictionsNew Bedford Code of Ordinances §§ 6-3, 6-4
Sec. 6-3. - Fence viewers—Appointment. The mayor shall annually in April, subject to confirmation by the city council, appoint two (2) or more fence viewers, to hold office for one year and until their successors are qualified. Sec. 6-4. - Same—Compensation. Each fence viewer shall be paid at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) a day for the time during which such person is employed, but the fee ...
Material Restrictions
New Bedford bans barbed wire fencing in every residential zone, and on any property line touching a residential zone, unless it starts at least eight feet above grade. Zoning Section 2339 is the city's only fence-material restriction: it does not separately address electric fencing, chain link, or any other material, so those remain governed by the ordinance's general fence height and yard-placement rules.
New Bedford Barbed Wire Fence Ban
Some RestrictionsNew Bedford Zoning Ordinance § 2339
2339. Barbed Wire. Barbed wire is prohibited in all residential zones, or on property lines abutting residential zones below a height of eight (8) feet above grade.
Looking for Bristol County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement New Bedford city rules.
Fence Regulations in Bristol County →