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Lynn, MA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Barbed wire: prohibited citywide
Concertina wire: prohibited citywide
Fences under 7 feet: no Building Permit needed
Fence finished side: must face abutting property
Fine: $300 per violation per day
Enforcing agency: Building Commissioner (ISD)

Summary

The Lynn Zoning Ordinance bans barbed wire and concertina wire on any lot in the city. Section 7.B.3.b's prohibition sits alongside a companion rule barring fences from drainage and utility easements, both enforced by Inspectional Services.

a. Fences are prohibited within any existing or required drainage or utility easement.
b. Barbed wire and concertina wire are prohibited.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

3 of the 2025 Zoning Ordinance, adopted by the City Council on June 24, 2025, lists the restrictions that apply to every fence in Lynn regardless of district or lot type. ' No exception is written into the ordinance for industrial, agricultural, or commercial lots, so the prohibition covers residential and non-residential property alike. a, from any existing or required drainage or utility easement, protecting the City's ability to access those lines. c). 2 (four feet in the frontage area, six feet behind it). 1 and can order removal of a fence built with prohibited barbed or concertina wire.

Violations & Fines

Installing barbed wire or concertina wire is a zoning violation under Section 11.B. The Building Commissioner can order the fence removed or altered to comply, and anyone convicted of the violation faces a $300 fine, with each day the wire remains up treated as a separate offense, plus costs and legal fees under Section 11.B.3.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put barbed wire on my fence in Lynn?

No. Section 7.B.3.b of the Zoning Ordinance says plainly that 'barbed wire and concertina wire are prohibited,' with no carve-out for commercial, industrial, or agricultural lots. The ban applies to every fence in the city regardless of zoning district.

Is razor wire allowed on a commercial fence in Lynn?

The ordinance does not create an industrial or commercial exception; Section 7.B.3.b's prohibition on barbed wire and concertina wire (commonly called razor wire) applies citywide, so a business cannot install it even to secure a loading yard or storage lot.

Does Lynn require a permit for a regular residential fence?

No, not for most fences. Section 7.B.1.b exempts fences up to seven feet from needing a Building Permit, though they are erected at the property owner's risk and still must meet the height, easement, and material rules elsewhere in Section 7.B.

What happens if I install a prohibited fence in Lynn?

The Building Commissioner can issue a violation notice ordering the fence changed or removed. Conviction brings a $300 fine per violation, with each day of noncompliance counted separately, plus legal costs, under Section 11.B.3 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Sources & Official References

[1]City of Lynn Zoning Ordinance (v2025-12-09 as adopted), § 7.B.3

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All Lynn rules

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