Fence permits in Worcester County are issued by each municipality. Under 780 CMR (MA State Building Code), fences over 7 feet require a building permit statewide. Worcester requires a zoning permit from Inspectional Services, and spite fences over 6 feet violate MGL c. 49 §21.
Fence permitting in Worcester County is handled by each of the 60 municipalities because county government was abolished in 1998. The Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), which is uniform statewide and cannot be modified by cities, requires a building permit for any fence over 7 feet tall and for masonry or retaining walls over 4 feet. In the City of Worcester, zoning permits for fences up to 6 feet are issued by the Department of Inspectional Services under the Worcester Zoning Ordinance. Fences in Worcester's local historic districts (Crown Hill, Massachusetts Avenue, Elm Park, and the Mechanics Hall area) require Worcester Historical Commission review. Pool barrier fences must meet 780 CMR Appendix G and 105 CMR 435 (48-inch minimum, self-closing/self-latching gate). Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, and Milford each issue fence permits through their building departments. MGL c. 49 §21 prohibits 'spite fences' — fences over 6 feet built maliciously to annoy a neighbor — with adjacent owners able to sue for nuisance. MGL c. 49 §1 sets the 'legal and sufficient fence' standard at 4+ feet in good repair for boundary/livestock purposes. Property line surveys are strongly recommended because Massachusetts does not register boundaries through any statewide system outside of the Registry of Deeds.
Unpermitted fence over 7 ft: stop-work order plus retroactive permit with double fee; Worcester fines $100-$500. Historic district violation: removal order plus additional penalties. Spite fence under MGL c. 49 §21: civil nuisance damages plus injunctive removal order.
Fitchburg, MA
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Fitchburg, MA
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Fitchburg, MA
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Fitchburg, MA
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Fitchburg, MA
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Fitchburg, MA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Worcester County.
See how Fitchburg's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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