Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 49 governs partition fences between neighbors, and Somerville follows the state rule that the finished side faces the neighbor's property.
Fence relationships between neighbors in Somerville are governed largely by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 49, the Fence Law, rather than a detailed city ordinance. Under MGL c.49, owners of adjoining improved lands are jointly responsible for maintaining partition fences, and disputes over cost-sharing may go before the Somerville Board of Fence Viewers (a role filled by designated city officials). Somerville zoning requires that the finished or good side of a fence face outward toward the neighbor and public way, with supporting posts and rails on the owner's side. Fences must be built entirely on the owner's side of the surveyed property line unless neighbors sign a shared boundary agreement. Malicious fences, built for no purpose except to spite a neighbor, are prohibited under MGL Chapter 49 Section 21 and can be declared a private nuisance. Accurate surveys are strongly recommended before installation.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Somerville, MA
Somerville restricts amplified music through its noise ordinance and entertainment licensing, with plainly-audible standards at property lines and stricter c...
Somerville, MA
Somerville limits construction noise to daytime and early-evening weekday hours with shorter Saturday windows and a full Sunday and holiday prohibition, refl...
Somerville, MA
Overnight street parking in Somerville requires a resident permit citywide. Snow emergencies trigger odd-even or posted-side bans.
Somerville, MA
Commercial vehicles over 2.5 tons cannot park overnight on Somerville residential streets. Loading zones are time-limited and signed by block.
Somerville, MA
Most Somerville streets are resident-permit zones. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours on posted blocks from 8 AM to 8 PM daily including weekends.
Somerville, MA
Traditional livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, sheep, and pigs are not permitted on residential lots in Somerville, which has no agricultural zoning di...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle neighbor fence rules.
See how Somerville's neighbor fence rules rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.