Taunton, MA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Height cap
- 2 feet within corner visibility triangle
- Triangle extent
- 50 feet of street frontage from the corner
- Wire fence exception A
- Openings at least 4 inches, any setback
- Wire fence exception B
- Openings at least 2 inches, 5-foot setback
- Any-fence exception
- 10-foot setback from corner property line
- Amended
- May 21, 2024
Summary
Taunton caps hedges, shrubs and fences at two feet within the sight-triangle portion of a corner lot's front yard, an area extending 50 feet along each street frontage from the corner, measured above the roadway's center-line grade. Wire fencing with wide-enough openings, or any fence set back far enough from the corner, escapes the cap.
§ 440-703. Corner lots. ... To assure safe view of vehicles and of pedestrians across the corner, no shrub two feet overall diameter or larger and no hedge or fence shall extend higher than two feet above the main finished pavement center-line grade throughout that part of the front yard required on such lot 50 feet along the street frontage of each such yard from their street corner, unless: A. The fence is a wire fence in which the openings are not less than four inches' minimum dimension; B. The fence is a wire fence that has openings that are not less than two inches' minimum diameter and is set back at least five feet from the corner property line; or C. Any fence is set back at least 10 feet from the corner property line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4508986; v12 updated 2025-09-22; through 09-22-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 440-703, Corner Lots, amended May 21, 2024, protects sightlines where two streets meet. No shrub with an overall diameter of two feet or more, and no hedge or fence, can rise above two feet measured from the main finished pavement center-line grade, anywhere within the required front yard along 50 feet of street frontage measured from the street corner on each intersecting side. The rule reaches beyond fences to landscaping, so a homeowner can violate it with an oversized shrub or hedge as easily as with a wall or picket fence.
Three exceptions apply. A wire fence qualifies if its openings measure at least four inches in minimum dimension, regardless of setback. A wire fence with smaller openings, at least two inches in minimum diameter, still qualifies if it's set back at least five feet from the corner property line. And any fence of any material or opening size is allowed if it's set back at least 10 feet from the corner property line. The City Planner and Zoning Enforcement Officer field compliance questions for corner-lot fencing, and the same office reviews fence placement as part of any site plan or building permit review that touches a corner parcel.
Violations & Fines
A corner-lot fence, hedge or shrub that blocks the visibility triangle is a Chapter 440 violation under § 440-301B, punishable by a fine of up to $300 per offense, with every day the obstruction remains counted as a separate offense. The City can instead pursue noncriminal disposition: $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second, and $300 for a third and any later offense. The Zoning Enforcement Officer can order an oversized fence, hedge or shrub cut down or moved to restore the sightline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my corner-lot fence be in Taunton?
Are wire fences exempt from Taunton's corner-lot height limit?
What happens if my corner fence violates the sightline rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Taunton
How Taunton compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Taunton to another location·View the Massachusetts fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bristol County handle height limits.