Short answer
In Worcester Township, a fence of any style can be 48 in tall right on the side or rear property line, and up to 72 in if it’s at least 3 ft from the line. In the front setback, only decorative fences up to 30 in or open picket or split-rail fences up to 48 in are allowed, with a 36 in gate on each street frontage. The township issues fence permits on its own application.
| Rule | What the code says |
|---|---|
| Front setback | No fence, except decorative fences up to 30 in, or open-style fences (picket, split rail) at least half open, up to 48 in. Decorative corner fences up to 3 ft may run up to 10 ft from a front property corner. |
| Side and rear yards | Up to 48 in at the property line; up to 72 in if at least 3 ft from the side or rear line. |
| Front gates | Front-setback fences need a gate or opening at least 36 in wide on each street frontage, and per 500 ft of street fencing. |
| Right-of-way | Nothing but a mailbox in the ultimate right-of-way. |
| Finished side | The finish side, without the structural supports, faces adjacent properties and the street. |
| Townhouses | Where three or more connected homes fence their rear yards, a 48 in emergency accessway runs along the rear line with 36 in gates. |
| Prohibited | Barbed wire around residential dwellings; fences made of fabric, junk, junk vehicles, appliances, tanks or barrels. |
| Pools | Entirely in the rear yard, at least 10 ft behind the house and 25 ft from side and rear lines (50 ft in AGR, R-175 and R-AG-175). No township pool-fence standard found in zoning. |
| Permit | Required. Township Fence Permit application with two copies of the plot plan. |
From Worcester Township Zoning § 150-182, § 150-186 and § 150-177, and the township Fence Permit application.
Why the height drops at the property line
Most of our townships set one rear-yard number and let you build it on the line. Worcester splits it in two. A 48 in fence can sit right at the side or rear property line; to go to 72 in, the fence has to be at least 3 ft inside the line. In effect, the tallest fences stay a step back from the neighbor.
That 3 ft strip is still your land, so think about how you’ll mow it. On a big lot it barely matters. On a townhouse or a tight subdivision lot it can be a real decision: a 4 ft fence on the line, or a 6 ft fence with a maintained strip behind it.
Front-yard fences on Worcester lots
Worcester is a big township, 16.2 square miles, with agricultural districts still in the zoning and villages like Center Point, Fairview Village and Cedars. Split rail and open picket suit the front-yard rule: open-style fences up to 48 in are allowed in the front setback, other decorative fences only up to 30 in, and a decorative corner piece up to 3 ft can run 10 ft from a front property corner. Freestanding walls in a residential front yard are limited to 3 ft.
Any fence in the front setback needs an operable gate or opening at least 36 in wide on each street frontage, plus one per 500 ft of fencing along a road, so the strip between fence and road can be mowed. Driveway pillars are allowed, two per driveway, up to 5 ft tall, outside the ultimate right-of-way. Only a mailbox may stand in that right-of-way.
Farms, grazing and pools
Agricultural fencing follows the same section of the code, and grazing areas must be fenced. Barbed wire isn’t allowed as part of fences around homes. Pools sit in the rear yard at least 10 ft behind the house and 25 ft from side and rear lines, or 50 ft in the agricultural districts. We didn’t find a township pool-fence standard, so the barrier follows the state code.
What the township wants with a permit
- The signed two-page Fence Permit application.
- Two copies of the plot plan.
- An HOA approval letter, if the lot is in an association.
- Written consent from the owner if someone else applies.
- From the contractor: PA home improvement registration, liability insurance naming the township, and workers’ comp.
Applications go to Worcester Township at 1721 Valley Forge Road (610-584-1410). The form doesn’t list a fee.
Which homes this covers
Only part of Worcester falls in our service area, where homes carry Lansdale 19446 mailing addresses. The township is in the Methacton School District, Skippack and Stony creeks drain it, and Routes 73 and 363 cross it. If your mail says Lansdale but your children are assigned to Methacton schools, that’s a good hint you’re in Worcester rather than the borough; your tax bill confirms it.
What we haven’t confirmed
- How chain link is treated in residential side and rear yards. Our reading of § 150-182A is unclear, so we ask before quoting it.
- The permit fee.
- A township pool barrier rule.
- Section 150-182 was amended January 15, 2025 (Ord. 299). We re-read it before each job.
Checked October 2026 from Worcester’s zoning code and fence permit form. Codes change, so we confirm with the zoning office before every install. See PA fence permits for other townships, and we can show you the 48 in and 72 in options side by side at your estimate.
Common questions
Can I build a 6 ft fence on my property line in Worcester Township?
No. On the line the limit is 48 in. A fence up to 72 in is allowed once it’s at least 3 ft inside the side or rear property line.
Does my contractor need anything special for a Worcester fence permit?
Yes. The township asks contractors for PA registration, liability insurance naming the township, and workers’ compensation coverage with the application.