Fencing in Erving, Massachusetts

Fencing is not an energy-efficiency measure, so it carries no Mass Save or energy rebate, and there is nothing to apply for either way. What actually governs an Erving fence is town zoning. The bylaw typically caps rear and side fences around 6 feet, with lower limits in front-yard setbacks, and on the older village lots near the river the side and front rules matter, so confirm the exact numbers with the building department. Erving is National Grid (investor-owned) territory, but since fencing is not a Mass Save measure, that has no bearing on a fence job. Properties along the Millers River, Keyup Brook, or other wetlands may need Erving Conservation Commission review under the Wetlands Protection Act before posts go in. Any pool fence must meet state pool-barrier code: at least 4 feet tall with self-closing, self-latching gates.

Erving generally requires a building or zoning permit for a new fence through the town building department, and your contractor should hold current Massachusetts HIC registration. Post footings need to reach about 48 inches below grade to clear frost, which on Erving's rockier ground can mean rock drilling or working around ledge. On the older village lots, confirm the property line with a survey before setting posts, since boundaries between close-set 19th-century houses are often unclear. Call Dig Safe at 811 before digging.

Fence costs in Erving run below eastern-Massachusetts rates, though ledge and riverbank access can narrow that gap. Pressure-treated wood privacy fence typically runs $30–$55 per linear foot installed; cedar $40–$70; chain-link $20–$40; vinyl/PVC $40–$65; and post-and-rail $15–$30. Ornamental aluminum for a pool barrier runs $45–$75, and welded-wire $10–$25. Drilling rock, fencing across slopes, removing old fence, and tight access on close village lots all raise the final figure.

Erving is a small Franklin County town of about 1,631 residents across roughly 757 housing units, with a median home age near 75 years, among the older stock in the region. It straddles the Millers River along Route 2, with the older village clustered near the former paper mills and rural lots spreading into the wooded hills toward Wendell and Warwick.

The tighter village lots near the river favor cedar and wood privacy and picket fences and chain-link between close neighbors. Rural and hillside properties lean toward post-and-rail, wood, and chain-link for dog runs and gardens. Central Massachusetts bedrock sits near the surface in spots, which can complicate post holes.