No building permit is required for a fence up to six feet in height on or close to a lot line, but a building permit is required to construct any fence over six feet. Corner-lot fences must not obstruct views.
The City of Lowell Development Services Office administers fence permitting. Its Fence Permits guidance states that a fence up to six feet in height may be located on or close to a lot line with no building permit required, that a fence cannot obstruct views on corner lots, and that to construct a fence over six feet in height the owner is required to obtain a building permit. Permits are issued through the Development Services Office (Inspectional Services), reachable at 978-674-4144. Because a fence over six feet is a 'structure' subject to the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), the over-six-foot building permit triggers the City's standard plan-review and inspection process. The corner-lot view restriction implements Section 5.2.8 of the Zoning Ordinance (Corner Clearance), which caps fence height at three and one-half feet within the 15-foot sight triangle.
Building a fence over six feet without the required building permit can result in a stop-work order, an after-the-fact permit requirement (often at a higher fee), administrative citations, and an order to remove or lower the fence. Corner-lot fences obstructing sight lines must be cut back or removed.
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