Fence Requirements: Belmont vs Somerville
How do fence requirements rules compare between Belmont, MA and Somerville, MA?
Belmont and Somerville have similar restriction levels.
Belmont, MA
Middlesex County
Fence construction requirements in Middlesex County vary by municipality. Most towns cap residential fences at 6 feet in side/rear yards and 4 feet in front yards under local zoning bylaws.
View full Belmont rules →Somerville, MA
Middlesex County
Somerville fences must meet zoning, building code, and historic preservation requirements, with finished-side-out orientation, property-line setbacks, and permit and survey compliance.
View full Somerville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Belmont | Somerville |
|---|---|---|
| Front Yard Max | Typically 4 ft | - |
| Side/Rear Max | Typically 6 ft | - |
| State Permit Trigger | Over 6 ft 6 in | - |
| Barbed Wire | Prohibited in residential | - |
| Authority | Local zoning bylaw | - |
| 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 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Belmont FAQ
How tall can a fence be in Middlesex County?
Most towns allow 6 ft in side and rear yards and 4 ft in front yards. Check your local zoning bylaw for exact limits.
Which side of the fence faces the neighbor?
Most Middlesex municipalities require the finished (smooth) side to face the neighbor or public way under local bylaw.
Somerville FAQ
Do I need a survey before building a fence?
A survey or recent plot plan is strongly recommended; boundary disputes are common in Somerville's dense small-lot neighborhoods.
Must I protect street trees?
Yes. Somerville's tree ordinance requires root zone protection when digging within the critical root zone of a city tree.
Compare other topics
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