Fence Regulations in Springfield, MA (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Springfield, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Springfield residential fences over 6 feet need a Tier 3 Special Permit; front yards allow no fence in A/A-1 districts and only 3 feet in B/B-1/C districts, plus a corner-lot sight triangle keeping barriers under 2.5 feet.
Springfield Fence Height Regulations
Some RestrictionsSpringfield Zoning Ordinance § 7.4.20 (§§ 7.4.21-7.4.23)
7.4.21 In any Residential District, a fence higher than six (6) feet shall require a Tier 3 Special Permit... 7.4.23 A. In a Residential A-1 or A district, no FENCE shall be constructed between the front foundation line and the STREET or in a required FRONT YARD. B. In a Residential B, B-1 or C district, no FENCE greater than three (3) feet in height shall be constructed between the front found...
Fence Permit Requirements
In Springfield, Massachusetts (Hampden County), a residential fence taller than 6 feet needs a Tier 3 Special Permit from the Planning Board; business-district fences over 8 feet within 10 feet of a residential lot line trigger the same requirement.
Springfield MA Fence Permit Requirement
Significant RestrictionsSpringfield Zoning Ordinance § 7.4.21
In any Residential District, a fence higher than six (6) feet shall require a Tier 3 Special Permit. The same requirement shall apply to such a fence in excess of eight (8) feet, located within a Business District, if said fence is located within ten (10) feet of the property line of a residential use.
Retaining Walls
Building a retaining wall in Springfield takes a City building permit with a $75 minimum fee, the same rate charged for other temporary structures: the ordinance sets no separate wall-height threshold before a permit kicks in.
Springfield MA Retaining Wall Permit Fee
Some RestrictionsSpringfield City Code § 175-5
The minimum fee for a building permit for a temporary structure and for a retaining wall is $75. B. The minimum fee for a building permit for a radio antennas and towers is $250, plus $10 per $1,000 of value per R.S. Means square foot costs (per annual edition). C. A minimum fee for a building permit for adding an antenna to an existing tower shall be $500 per antenna.
Material Restrictions
Springfield's zoning ordinance bans razor or barbed wire on any front lot line citywide and bans it outright on fences touching a residential use or sitting inside a residential district. The Building Commissioner enforces it and can order a noncompliant fence removed within 30 days.
Springfield MA Barbed Wire Fence Ban
Some RestrictionsSpringfield Zoning Ordinance § 7.4.24
In all ZONING DISTRICTS, razor or barbed wire shall not be located along the FRONT LOT LINE. FENCES that abut a Residential USE or that are within a Residential DISTRICT shall not contain razor or barbed wire.