Fence quotes for Northborough homeowners

Northborough's fence rules, in plain English

These come straight from the town's zoning bylaw (Section 7-09-050, Fences and Hedges). Confirm anything unusual with the Building Department at 63 Main Street before you order materials.

• Seven feet is the ceiling. No fence in town can be taller than 7 feet. Height is measured from the finished grade at the base to the very top of the fence, and that includes lattice, top boards, and decorative post caps. A 6-foot panel with a foot of lattice is a 7-foot fence.
• Solid fences stay low near the street. Between the street and your front setback line, a solid (opaque) fence or hedge can't be taller than 3½ feet. That's the rule that surprises people who want a 6-foot privacy fence along the front of the yard.
• Corner lots have a sight-line rule. On a corner lot, no solid fence or hedge can be taller than 3½ feet above the curb for at least 25 feet along the property line, so drivers can see around the corner.
• Need to go taller? The Zoning Board of Appeals can allow it by special permit if safety and visibility aren't affected. Anything over 7 feet also needs a building permit under the state building code.

What that means for common Northborough projects

• Back-yard privacy: a 6-foot wood or vinyl fence along the side and rear lines is the usual choice and sits comfortably under the cap. Watch the lattice topper if you add one.
• Front-yard fences: pickets, post-and-rail, and open aluminum are the natural fits, since the 3½-foot limit applies to solid fences.
• Corner lots off Route 20 and the side streets near the center: ask each contractor to mark where the 25-foot stretch falls before they price the job.
• Yards that slope toward the Assabet or back onto wetlands: work near water can involve the Conservation Commission. Ask the town before a post goes in.

Tell us on the form

Your street or ZIP, whether you're on a corner lot, the height you have in mind, and whether there's an old fence to haul away. A contractor who knows about the corner or the slope up front gives a better first number.

How it goes

You send the form and get a confirmation email right away. A real person reads every request, then we try to line it up with a fence contractor who works in Northborough. We're the middle step, not the crew, and nothing commits you until you sign with a contractor you choose.