Springfield, MA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

24 of the Springfield Zoning Ordinance draws a hard line on fence materials: in every zoning district in the city, razor or barbed wire cannot be strung along a front lot line, full stop, regardless of the underlying use. The rule tightens further for anything touching residential life: a fence that abuts a residential use, or that is located within a Residential District at all, may not contain razor or barbed wire anywhere on the property, not just at the front. That second clause reaches commercial and industrial fences too, the moment they sit next to a house or apartment.

4 also sets the surrounding fence rules that give this ban context. 21 requires a Tier 3 Special Permit for any residential-district fence over six feet, and for a business-district fence over eight feet within ten feet of a residential use. 23 bars any fence between the front foundation line and the street in a Residential A or A-1 district, and caps front-yard fences at three feet in Residential B, B-1 or C districts. 25 so they cannot block a sidewalk or right-of-way. 26: any fence, wall or vegetated barrier in disrepair must be removed or repaired within 30 days of a notice from the Building Commissioner.

1, who reviews building permit applications for compliance before any structure, including a fence, is erected or altered. There is no electric-fence provision anywhere in the zoning ordinance; the only material restriction on the books targets razor and barbed wire specifically.