Showing ordinances that apply to Reading, MA
Reading is an unincorporated community (population 25,518) in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Because Reading is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Middlesex County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The fence requirements rules below are the ones that govern your area.
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.
General fence requirements in Middlesex County are established by each city or town zoning bylaw rather than county-level rules. Typical Middlesex municipalities (Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, Lowell, Framingham, Waltham, Arlington, Medford, Malden) impose a 6-foot maximum in side and rear yards and 4-foot maximum in front yards within residential zoning districts. The MA State Building Code 780 CMR requires a building permit for any fence over 6 feet 6 inches. Finished side (smooth face) generally must face the neighbor or street under most local bylaws, though this varies. Fences must not obstruct sight triangles at driveways and intersections. Fences on corner lots face additional visibility restrictions. Barbed wire and electrified fencing are generally prohibited in residential districts. Consult the local zoning bylaw and Building Department in your specific Middlesex municipality before construction.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Reading's fence requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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