Fence Installation Permits in Cambridge

Local Rule

City of Cambridge Department of Public Works, Planning and Urban Design Division

Cambridge's Planning and Zoning Division requires anyone intending to erect a fence or wall to submit a permit application, with a plan or sketch showing the proposed location and materials, before any work begins; once approved by the Zoning Official, the permit is valid for 180 days. Separately, the city's Inspectional Services Department (ISD) requires a building permit specifically once a fence exceeds 6 feet in height. Temporary fences such as snow fences are exempt from the zoning permit requirement, and approval for wire fences is left to the Zoning Official's discretion.

Source · Verified September 2026

Cambridge Building Department

Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.

How This Compares to Middlesex County

Cambridge's own rule is shown above (Permit required). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:

No county-level building department — each town administers

780 CMR sets a statewide 7-foot permit threshold, but Middlesex towns diverge sharply: Lowell and Plymouth require a permit above 6 feet, Marlborough requires one for nearly all fence installations regardless of height. Distinctively, Massachusetts has maintained an official "fence viewer" system since 1693 (codified in MGL Ch. 49), colonial-era town officials who still mediate boundary fence disputes between neighbors today.

See the full county page

Nearby Cities with Verified Rules

Other cities near Cambridge with a confirmed fence installation rule:

FAQs

Building It Yourself? Here's What You'll Need

Popular tools and materials homeowners use for a fence installation project:

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