Cambridge, MA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing district
- Parkway Overlay District, Sec. 20.61
- Height cap
- 4 feet within 25 ft of ROW
- Opacity cap
- 30 percent maximum
- Prohibited materials
- Chain-link and wire fences
- Height measured from
- Curb level of the street
- Same rule also applies
- Alewife Overlay Quadrangle, Sec. 20.1100.5.5.6
Summary
Within Cambridge's Parkway Overlay District, land the ordinance designates near arterial parkways such as the Fresh Pond Reservation, Zoning Ordinance Section 20.65 caps any front- or side-lot-line fence within 25 feet of a public right-of-way at 4 feet high and 30 percent opaque, and bans chain-link and wire fencing outright.
20.65 Fences. In order to maintain a feeling of openness, to facilitate pedestrian enjoyment and use, and to maximize scenic views, fences along the front and side lot lines shall comply with the following standards: 1. No fence along a front or side lot line and within twenty-five (25) feet of a public right of way shall be more than four (4) feet in height from the curb level of the street or more than thirty (30) percent opaque. 2. Chainlink and wire fences are prohibited.
Full Breakdown
69. 65. 6 imposes the same 4-foot/25-foot/30-percent test and the same chain-link and wire ban in the Alewife Overlay District Quadrangle (AOD-Q). Outside these two mapped overlay districts, this specific 4-foot fence standard does not apply; a property owner should confirm on the zoning map whether a lot sits inside the Parkway Overlay District or the AOD-Q before relying on this section.
Violations & Fines
A fence built taller than 4 feet, more than 30 percent opaque, or made of chain-link or wire within 25 feet of a public right-of-way in the Parkway Overlay District or the Alewife Overlay District Quadrangle does not comply with Section 20.65 or Section 20.1100.5.5.6. The Superintendent of Buildings and Commissioner of Inspectional Services can deny a building permit for the fence or order a nonconforming fence removed or altered to comply; an owner seeking relief from the standard must apply for a special permit through the Board of Zoning Appeal or Planning Board process governing the applicable overlay district.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a fence be near the Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge?
Can I put up a chain-link fence in the Parkway Overlay District?
Does the 4-foot fence rule apply everywhere in Cambridge?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cambridge
How Cambridge compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Cambridge to another location·View the Massachusetts fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle height limits.