Middlesex County has no unified code. Each of the 54 municipalities (Cambridge, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Framingham, etc.) sets its own fence permit rules under local zoning bylaws, governed by MA General Laws.
Middlesex County is a geographic region in Massachusetts without unified county government or building code enforcement. Fence permit requirements are set by each individual city or town through local zoning bylaws adopted under MGL Chapter 40A. Most Middlesex municipalities require a zoning permit or building permit for fences exceeding 6 feet 6 inches in height per the MA State Building Code 780 CMR, though some require permits for any fence in front yards or over 4 feet. Residents in Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, Newton, Waltham, Medford, Malden, Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Woburn, and other cities must check with their local Building Department or Inspectional Services Department. Fences on or near property lines may also trigger MGL Chapter 49 Fence Viewer provisions if disputes arise with neighbors.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massa...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County treats persistent barking as a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. Dog licensing required statewide (MGL c.140 §155).
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no unified leaf blower ordinance. Regulations are set by individual cities and towns such as Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, and Lexington...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight and size limits apply. Overnight storage of heavy trucks prohibited.
Middlesex County, MA
Driveway rules are set by each Middlesex County city or town zoning bylaw. Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and Framingham regulate curb cuts, width, paving, a...
Middlesex County, MA
Winter parking bans are the dominant rule across Middlesex County. Most cities prohibit overnight on-street parking from November through April to allow snow...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle permit requirements.
See how Arlington's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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