Tag:barrier=fence
 barrier = fence
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A freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary, generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction. 
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| Group: barriers |
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Status: approved
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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
To map a fence as a linear barrier, draw a 
way along the fence's location. This tag may be used either on an open way or on a 
closed way, but should not be used together with a tag which represents an area (refer to the One feature, one OSM element principle).
To map a fence as a barrier on a path of travel, add the barrier=fence tag to a 
node at the location where the path and the fence intersect. This may be necessary if, for example, the linear path of the fence cannot be seen in aerial imagery. Consider adding access=no to the node to confirm and make it clear that it is not possible to continue along the path at that location. Even if the fence is also mapped as a way, adding the barrier=fence tag to the intersection node helps routers avoid sending travelers down a path that has been confirmed to be blocked by a fence.
For general information on how to map fences and associated features, refer to 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 gapsfenced=yes: Whether the outer perimeter of something is fenced- Proposed features/Fence attributes: old fence type proposal based on fence:type key instead of fence_type.