Tag:barrier=fence

A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. It is generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction.

How to map

Draw a way along the barrier location. This tag may be used either on a open way or on a closed way, but should not be used together with a tag which represents an area (One feature, one OSM element rule).

For general information on how to map fences and associated features see barriers.

You may also add:

• height=* If you know the height of the fence.
• fence_type=* To detail the material or the properties of the fence.

To place an entrance in the fence, use barrier=gate etc. (see list of documented values) on a node of the way (or, less commonly, on a micromapped segment of the fence).

Fence or wall

The Wikipedia page for Fence notes that "a fence differs from a wall in not having a solid foundation along its whole length."

The page for Wall leaves the distinction more open with "The conventional differentiation is that a fence is of minimal thickness and often open in nature, while a wall is usually more than a nominal thickness and is completely closed, or opaque. More to the point, an exterior structure of wood or wire is generally called a fence—but one of masonry is a wall."

Possible tagging mistakes

See also

• barrier=wall - If the structure is opaque and more solid.
• barrier=hedge - If the barrier is a hedge.
• barrier=gate - To place a gate in the fence.
• barrier=gate - A section in the fence which can be opened.
• barrier=entrance - A gap in the fence which can be passed without restriction.
• barrier=stile - A structure which provides people a passage through or over a boundary via steps, ladders or narrow gaps
• Proposed features/Fence attributes: old fence type proposal based on fence:type key instead of fence_type.