{"id":374050,"date":"2017-11-14T13:25:34","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T18:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/massachusetts-law\/property-line-and-fence-laws-in-massachusetts.html"},"modified":"2025-07-10T13:58:26","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:58:26","slug":"property-line-and-fence-laws-in-massachusetts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/property-line-and-fence-laws-in-massachusetts.html","title":{"rendered":"Property Line and Fence Laws in Massachusetts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Property Line and Fence Laws in Massachusetts<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Property line and fence laws in Massachusetts set forth the regulations for boundary lines and fence construction to resolve disputes among neighbors.<\/blockquote>\r\n

Imagine you come home one afternoon to find your neighbors have completely enclosed their property with a barbed-wire fence. It would make you feel like you’re living next to a prison, and the unsightly fence would hurt your property value. What can you do?<\/p>\r\n

Good fences make good neighbors, right? While most neighbor disputes<\/a> are not this extreme, it does paint an accurate picture of what can happen when adjoining property owners disagree about a fence or property line. The good news is that boundary disputes don’t have to be a war.<\/p>\r\n

Massachusetts has laws that dictate where to erect a new fence and what fencing materials you can use. There’s a good chance your town or municipality has specific laws regarding fence setback requirements<\/a>, tree encroachment, and other issues you may have with your neighbor.<\/p>\r\n

This articles explain Massachusetts’ fence laws and your rights as a homeowner in New England. It also examines how Massachusetts law determines which property owner is responsible for constructing and repairing a partition fence<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

If you’re having trouble settling a fence line dispute, consider contacting a local real estate attorney<\/a>. We’ve also included helpful links to relevant FindLaw articles at the bottom of this page.<\/p>\r\n

Quick Look: Massachusetts Property Line and Fence Law<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

When you’re having a property dispute with a neighbor, knowing what to do is challenging. If you don’t enforce your property line<\/a>, you risk losing your property rights to the contested land. Fortunately, Massachusetts has well-developed state and local laws on fences, trees, and property lines that can help settle many disagreements.<\/p>\r\n

If you’re planning a fence installation or intend to cut down your neighbor’s tree branches, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with Massachusetts property line and fence laws. We’ve gathered Massachusetts laws relevant to property line and fence disputes<\/a> below.<\/p>\r\n

State Statutes<\/b><\/h3>\r\n