Short answer
Towamencin Township limits front-yard fences to 3 ft, or 4 ft on residential lots if the fence is at least 2.5 parts open to 1 part solid. Side and rear fences can be 6 ft; any part above 6 ft must be at least 4 parts open to 1 solid. Corner lots have a front yard on every street side. Fences need a permit, with a $95 zoning fee on the 2026 residential application.
| Rule | What the code says |
|---|---|
| Front yard | 3 ft. On residential lots, up to 4 ft if the open-to-solid ratio is at least 2.5:1 and it doesn’t block views at intersections, streets or crosswalks. |
| Side and rear yards | 6 ft. Height above 6 ft only where that portion is at least 4:1 open to solid. |
| Corner lots | All yards abutting a street are treated as front yards. |
| Placement | No fence in an easement, a retention or detention basin, or the ultimate right-of-way of a street. |
| Prohibited | Diamond- or rectangular-pattern chain link in front yards. Welded wire is allowed against a post-and-rail or split-rail fence. |
| Sight lines | No fence, wall or planting may block views at a street intersection or crosswalk (no fixed distance stated). |
| Pools | Pools deeper than 2 ft need a wire-mesh or solid fence 48 in to 6 ft high, no vertical gap over 2 in, no footholds. |
| Permit | Required. Consolidated Residential Permit Application with two plot plans; $95 zoning fee (rev. 07/2026). |
From Towamencin Zoning § 153-604 and § 153-605, Swimming Pools Ch. 139, and the Consolidated Residential Permit Application (07/2026).
What a 2.5:1 front fence looks like
The 4 ft front-yard allowance depends on the fence being mostly air. At 2.5:1, every inch of board or picket needs 2.5 in of open space beside it, so the fence is about 71% open. A picket that’s actually 3.5 in wide needs gaps of roughly 8.75 in, which is wider than a standard picket fence. Split rail, post-and-rail and many aluminum styles clear the ratio easily; a tight picket fence usually doesn’t and has to stay at 3 ft.
Chain link is the other front-yard catch. The diamond or rectangular pattern isn’t allowed out front, but welded-wire mesh fastened to a split-rail or post-and-rail fence is, which is the standard way to keep a dog in a Towamencin front yard. See our split rail fence page for that setup.
Corner lots and easements
Because every yard facing a street counts as a front yard, a corner lot in Kulpsville or Inglewood has two sides held to the 3 ft (or open 4 ft) limit. Only the yards facing neighbors get 6 ft.
Easements are a hard stop. The code bars fences in any easement, stormwater basin or the ultimate right-of-way, and the township’s permit application says it plainly: no fence or structure on an easement or the right-of-way. Subdivision lots often carry drainage or utility easements along a side or rear line, so we read your plot plan and deed for them before we pick a fence line. Homes in the MRC Mixed Residential Cluster district follow a separate standard (SALDO § 136-518).
Pool fences in Towamencin
The township’s pool chapter goes further than many. Any pool deeper than 2 ft must be surrounded by a substantial wire-mesh or solid fence between 48 in and 6 ft high, with no vertical opening over 2 in and no rail or ornament that works as a foothold. Gates must be locked when the owner is away and have an effective safety latch at all other times. The pool permit’s plot plan has to show the permanent fence, and that fence must be in place before the pool is filled.
Above-ground pools can skip the fence if the walls are 48 in high and the ladder is removed or lockable, among other conditions in the chapter. We check those conditions against your pool model.
Filing with Towamencin
Use the Consolidated Residential Permit Application with two plot plans showing the fence’s location and dimensions and the existing features on the lot. Mail or deliver it to the township building at 1090 Troxel Road, Lansdale PA 19446; questions go to 215-368-7602 or permits@towamencin.org. The July 2026 form lists a $95 zoning fee. We haven’t confirmed whether a building fee is added on top.
Which addresses this covers
Towamencin homes in our area mostly carry Lansdale 19446 addresses, the same ZIP as Lansdale Borough and four other townships. North Penn High School is in the township, the Northeast Extension (I-476) runs through the middle with an interchange at Sumneytown Pike (Route 63), and Towamencin Creek starts in Grist Mill Park. Check your tax bill if you’re not sure which code applies; our Lansdale area page lists them all.
What we haven’t confirmed
- Whether the $95 zoning fee is the whole permit cost.
- Any finished-side rule. None appears in the fence section.
Rules checked October 2026 from the Towamencin code and the July 2026 permit form. Codes change, so we confirm with the zoning office before every install. More townships are on our PA fence permits page, and we can sketch a 2.5:1 front fence for your lot at the free estimate.
Common questions
Can I put a chain link fence in my front yard in Towamencin?
Not diamond- or rectangular-pattern chain link. Welded wire attached to a split-rail or post-and-rail fence is allowed, within the front-yard height limits.
Can I build a fence on the drainage easement behind my house in Towamencin?
Plan on no. The zoning code bars fences in easements, stormwater basins and the street right-of-way, and the permit application says no fence on an easement. The code also mentions written consent from the easement owner, so ask the township before counting on an exception.