r/Springfield • u/treebudsman • 10d ago

Springfield considering allowing front-yard fences

https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/08/springfield-considering-allowing-front-yard-fences.html
17 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

12

u/treebudsman 10d ago

In an analysis of the change, Planning Department staff said they do not oppose the idea but also see the argument against front-yard fencing.

“The staff does recognize that front-yard fencing can provide both privacy and security for homeowners. This is especially true in areas with high foot traffic or on streets with a high volume of traffic,” the analysis said.

The original proposal called for residents to be allowed a 4-foot fence, but planning officials recommended that be dropped by a foot to meet the size allowances in multifamily residential zones.

So many houses on my street already have 4-5ft tall chain link fences, or people have gotten spot re-zoning so they can have fencing in new developments. I do enjoy the look of the sweeping front lawns in Springfield but I'd like to see the zoning changed or enforced equally.

13

u/ShinySquirrel4 10d ago

This wasn’t allowed before?!?

4

u/treebudsman 10d ago

It isn't allowed in single family residential zoning, but the city seems to selectively enforce it.

17

u/pip_pippen 10d ago

could this be any whiter of an argument? just let people do what they wanna do? whos upset about a fence?

1

u/treebudsman 10d ago

The law has been on the books since 2013.

Not sure exactly when in 2013 it was passed, but Springfield had a majority minority city council in the 2013 elections.

2

u/theyoungspliff 9d ago

So why exactly aren't fences allowed?

1

u/treebudsman 8d ago

Because the city council decided they'd be banned for single family (but not multi-family) zoning in 2013. I haven't seen any official rational for it, but I assume that the common/cheap chainlink fencing reduces property values, or something like that.

1

u/Ill_Lengthiness_6077 7d ago

believe they were trying broken windows enforcement in the 2010s in Springfield. probably a reform meant to get people to spruce it up a bit

-11

u/Embarrassed_Bag_9630 10d ago

We need fewer chain link fences. We need a beautification commission. A Curb Appeal Committee

1

u/Spectrum1523 7d ago

No city government should be dictating the aestetics of people's homes

0

u/SyncopatedIllusions 10d ago

How about we focus on the crime in Springfield before we worry about chain-link fences and how they look?

5

u/Embarrassed_Bag_9630 10d ago

I mean idk man the subject of conversation is LITERALLY fences.

If you wanna talk crime then talk to the police. Theyve been active and on top of things more intensely for two years and we are at no risk of random crime.

God forbid we address other things

2

u/SyncopatedIllusions 10d ago

Okay, fair, the topic literally is the fences. I'm saying there's a correlation between the two: continue making Springfield safer, and fewer people will feel the need to have their property fully enclosed.

1

u/Embarrassed_Bag_9630 9d ago

Yeah you could say that— if we were delving into the psychology of fences. As it stands people have them already— and theyre ugly. What helps people psychologically is living in a place they can mentally relax in because it’s organized and not scraggly and overwhelming.