Hampden County, MA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Massachusetts has no statewide residential fence-height cap below 7 feet. The state-level rules are: M.G.L. c. 49 §21 ("spite fence" - any fence over 6 feet erected unnecessarily and maliciously to annoy adjoining owners is a private nuisance, with the injured neighbor entitled to damages), M.G.L. c. 49 §10 ("legal and sufficient fence" between agricultural properties is at least 4 feet of stones, wood, wire, or hedge in good repair), and 780 CMR (state building code, 10th edition) which requires a building permit for any fence taller than 7 feet. Within Hampden County, each municipality enforces its own zoning bylaw under M.G.L. c. 40A: Springfield Zoning Ordinance §6.4.2 limits fences to 4 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet 6 inches elsewhere, with a 25% opacity rule for fences over 4 feet in front; Holyoke Zoning Ord. §6.5 limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side/rear yards; Chicopee Zoning §10.4 sets the same 4 ft front / 6 ft rear pattern; Westfield (Zoning §8-30) and Agawam (Zoning §180-65) follow comparable rules. Corner-lot sight triangles are regulated locally - typically a 25-foot triangle from the intersection where fences cannot exceed 30 inches. Disputes over fences on or near the property line, including spite-fence claims under M.G.L. c. 49 §21, are civil matters decided in superior or land court. There is no countywide permit office and no Hampden County fence inspector.