Cambridge, MA Privacy & Surveillance: Privacy Screening (2026)

Fence regulations in Middlesex County are set at the municipal level through local zoning bylaws, though the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR) provides the baseline. Under 780 CMR, fences 6 feet or less in height are generally exempt from building permits — this applies across all Middlesex County municipalities. Most municipalities follow a common pattern: 6-foot maximum for side and rear yard fences, 4-foot maximum for front yard fences, though specific limits vary by zoning district and municipality. A unique Massachusetts law — MGL Chapter 49 §21, the 'spite fence' statute — declares any fence over 6 feet unnecessarily erected or maintained for the purpose of annoying the adjoining property owner to be a private nuisance. This means even if local zoning allows a taller fence, it could be challenged as a spite fence if motivated by malice. The burden of proof is on the person alleging spite. In municipalities with historic districts (Cambridge, Concord, Lexington, Winchester), Historic District Commissions may review fence materials, style, and placement for properties within the district. Fences in conservation areas near wetlands or waterways may need Conservation Commission approval under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL Chapter 131 §40). Common fence materials in Middlesex County include wood (cedar, pressure-treated pine), vinyl, chain-link, and wrought iron. Stone walls — historic to New England — do not typically require permits when under 4 feet. Property line surveys are recommended before fence installation, particularly in older neighborhoods where boundaries may be uncertain.