Everett, MA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum height with wire on top
- Eight (8) feet above ground level
- Materials covered
- Barbed wire and razor wire mounted on top of a fence
- Residential rule
- Prohibited on or adjacent to residential use property
- Street-line check
- Bounds confirmed with the city engineer first
- General penalty
- Up to $300.00 per offense under Section 1-8
- Governing text
- Everett Revised Ordinances Section 17-7(b)
Summary
In the City of Everett, Massachusetts, Section 17-7(b) of the Revised Ordinances bars any fence under eight feet high that carries barbed wire or razor wire on top, and subsection (1) prohibits a fence topped with barbed or razor wire on or adjacent to residential use property.
(b) No person shall erect any fence to a height of less than eight (8) feet above ground level on any side that has barbed wire or razor wire mounted on the top of such fence. (1) Any fence erected with barbed or razor wire mounted on the top is prohibited on or adjacent to residential use property.
Full Breakdown
Everett regulates fence materials in one place: Section 17-7, Fences or Buildings on Lines of Public Ways, in Chapter 17 of the Revised Ordinances adopted by the Everett City Council in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Subsection (b) is a height rule tied to a material. No person shall erect any fence to a height of less than eight (8) feet above ground level on any side that has barbed wire or razor wire mounted on the top of such fence. In plain terms, wire-topped fencing is allowed only where the fence itself reaches eight feet.
Subsection (b)(1) then closes the door near homes. Any fence erected with barbed or razor wire mounted on the top is prohibited on or adjacent to residential use property. The reach of the word adjacent matters: a commercial or industrial lot that borders a residential use is covered, not just the residential lot itself. The eight foot threshold in (b) therefore applies only where no residential use sits on or next to the fence.
The companion rule in subsection (a) deals with location. No person shall erect, or cause to be erected, any fence or building on the line of any public way without first ascertaining the bounds of the street from the city engineer. If a fence encroaches on a street or way and the party responsible neglects or refuses to remove it after notice, the city services commission can remove it at the owner's expense and cause the offender to be prosecuted.
Section 17-7 as printed does not mention electric fencing, chain link, wood or any other fence material, so this page makes no statement about them. Near a street line, the front-yard sight rule in Section 17-116(n) also limits how high a fence can stand within 5 feet of the front lot line.
Violations & Fines
Section 17-7 prints no penalty clause of its own, so the general penalty in Section 1-8 applies: not to exceed $300.00 per offense, set at $25.00 for a first offense, $50.00 second, $100.00 third and $300.00 for a fourth and later offense. Each day of a continuing violation counts separately. For a fence encroaching on a street, the city services commission can remove it at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on a fence in Everett, Massachusetts?
How high does a fence have to be to carry razor wire in Everett?
Does a fence on a neighboring lot count as adjacent to residential use?
Does Everett require a check with the city engineer before building a fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Everett
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle material restrictions.