About 5 mi from our Waltham shop
Iron work in Lexington, MA
Lexington's fence sheet allows 4 feet at the front line, 6 on sides and rear without a permit, and historic-district ironwork must be repaired in kind.
Lexington rules that apply
What Lexington requires for iron work.
Historic district certificates
In the Battle Green, Hancock-Clarke, Munroe Tavern and East Village districts, most exterior changes visible from a public way, including additions, demolition and new construction, need a certificate from the Historic Districts Commission before a building permit issues. In-kind repairs and work not visible from the street are generally exempt.
Source: Lexington Historic Districts Commission: Design Review Guidelines, 2019 (PDF)
Neighborhood Conservation District review
Turning Mill and Pierce-Lockwood were made Neighborhood Conservation Districts at the 2018 Town Meeting, and each has its own commission and bylaw. House alterations there go to that commission for approval.
Source: Town of Lexington: Current Neighborhood Conservation Districts
Fences and retaining walls
A fence up to 6 feet can go on a side or rear line without a permit, taller than 6 feet needs a building permit and taller than 7 feet needs a special permit. Fences and walls at the front line are limited to 4 feet, and the town wants a stamped surveyor's plot plan to locate the line.
Source: Lexington: Fence and Retaining Wall Regulations (PDF)
How iron work goes in Lexington.
Iron fences and gates in Lexington follow the town's fence and retaining wall sheet. Front-line fences top out at 4 feet, side and rear fences can reach 6 feet without a building permit, and posts may rise 6 inches above the panels. The town also expects the posts and footings to sit on your side of a surveyed line, and corner lots usually need a lower fence near the intersection for sight lines.
In the Mass Ave historic districts the guidelines say original ironwork is repaired and restored rather than replaced, and any replacement has to match, decorative pieces included. New railings on an architecturally significant front are discouraged unless they don't alter the elevation, so we draw porch and stair rails for Commission review before fabricating. Interior stair railings and window guards don't go before the Commission at all.
Questions
Iron work in Lexington, answered.
Do I need a permit for an iron fence in Lexington?
Not if it's 6 feet or under on a side or rear line, but front-line fences are capped at 4 feet. In a historic district a street-facing fence also needs Historic Districts Commission approval.
Our iron work work.
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Photos from our jobs around Greater Boston.
Iron work near Lexington.
Where this information comes from
- Lexington Historic Districts Commission: Design Review Guidelines, 2019 (PDF)
- Town of Lexington: Current Neighborhood Conservation Districts
- Lexington: Fence and Retaining Wall Regulations (PDF)
- Town of Lexington: Building Office
- Lexington Building Dept.: Zoning By-Laws to Consider for Residential Construction (PDF)
- Lexington: Gross Floor Area Calculation worksheet, new construction (PDF)
- Lexington Building and Zoning: Proposed Plot Plan Requirements (PDF)
- Lexington: Review standard for basements near seasonal high groundwater (PDF)
- Lexington Historical Commission: Demolition Delay
- Town of Lexington: Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Program
- Town of Lexington: Buildings & Development (energy codes)
- Lexington Tree Committee: Tree Bylaw Rules & Regulations Quick Start Guide
- Town of Lexington: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
- Lexington Conservation Commission: Wetland Protection Code Rules, amended 2021 (PDF)
- Harvard Magazine: The Modern Revolution (2015)
Rules change. These are summaries of Lexington's and Massachusetts' published rules as of our last check, not legal advice; your project's permits are confirmed with the town when we file them.
Free estimate
Planning iron work in Lexington?
We'll come out, measure, listen, and send a written estimate. The visit is free and there's no pressure to sign.
Call 617-934-1875