The rule to know first
Cumberland's zoning ordinance keeps it simple. In the town's agricultural and residential zones, a fence can't be taller than four feet in any front yard, or taller than six feet in other yards. If you're picturing a tall privacy fence along the street side, plan on a lower, more open style there and save the six-footer for the sides and back. Cumberland's building and zoning office can confirm how the rule applies to your lot, particularly on a corner.
Valley Falls, Ashton, and Berkeley
The mill villages along the river have houses set close together on small lots. Fences here mostly do everyday jobs: marking a line that sits a few feet from the neighbor's house, keeping a dog in, or closing off a narrow side yard. Dig out a survey or plot plan before the posts go in, since old fence lines don't always match the deed. Replacing tired chain-link is one of the most common requests.
Cumberland Hill, Arnold Mills, and Diamond Hill
Head north and the lots open up. Longer boundaries make post-and-rail or split rail worth pricing, sometimes with wire for dogs. The ground is stony, and ledge can slow post setting, so ask each contractor how they handle rock and whether it changes the price. If the property runs near a brook, pond, or wetland, check with the town before settling on a fence line.
Pools
Cumberland lets a pool sit in the required rear yard, but no closer than six feet to a side or rear lot line. That spacing, plus the six-foot fence limit, shapes where a pool enclosure can go. Read pool fences in Rhode Island before you choose a style.
Details that help
- Your village or ZIP, so we know which part of town you're in
- Front, side, or back yard, since the height limit differs
- A rough length in feet, even a guess
- Whether an old fence needs to come out first
Elsewhere in the state: Pawtucket · Providence · Coventry