Clubs in the National League System must remove brick or concrete walls around pitches or use padding to cover them following a safety review prompted by the death of Chichester City forward Billy Vigar.
Former Arsenal youth striker Vigar, who was 21, died in September last year after suffering a brain injury when he collided with a concrete barrier trying to keep a ball in play during a match at Wingate and Finchley.
Following a safety review, the Football Association has published new pitch perimeter criteria which "no longer permits solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches," for clubs competing across the National League System for men (steps 1-6) and the Women's National League (tiers 3-4).
Billy Vigar (2003-2025) was an English professional footballer who started his career in the Arsenal Academy. Mike Hewitt/Getty Images "Any existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable, or covered with suitable protection if they cannot be removed for structural reasons," the FA said.
"We have informed the clubs at this level that will be required to take action as a result of these changes.
"Matches may continue to be played at affected grounds during this period; however, clubs should assess the safety of their pitch perimeter barriers on an ongoing basis, and where alterations to these structures have been recommended during this review, they should develop a plan to complete any such alterations within a reasonable timeframe."
Press Association Sport understands that of the approximately 900 clubs that play at the relevant levels, around 160 have been contacted regarding at least one element of their stadium which must be modified.
The FA and Premier League will provide funding to carry out the necessary work, with money distributed by the Premier League Stadium Fund.
"The initial phase of the programme is already underway, and we will continue to provide full support to the clubs involved in this process," the FA said.
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The Professional Footballers Association had been pushing for the safety review to take place prior to Vigar's death, following an incident which left Bath City's Alex Fletcher in a coma in 2022.