Short answer
A fence built to the full back-yard height your township allows, with no gaps along the bottom and self-closing gates, is the best fence-based protection for a dog against coyotes. No residential fence reliably stops a black bear. Both have turned up here: Lansdale police issued coyote notices in December 2024, a rabid coyote was reported in Wyncote in August 2026, and a young bear walked from Towamencin into Lansdale in May 2026. Check local rules first; Lansdale bans all-wire fences.
What’s been seen around here
| When | Where | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | Lansdale | Lansdale police issued coyote notices to residents |
| May 26-27, 2026 | Towamencin into Lansdale | A young black bear traveled into the borough, reported on the 2200 block of Berks Road |
| May 28, 2026 | Whitpain (Blue Bell) | Game wardens tranquilized and captured the same bear near Second Avenue and Skippack Pike |
| June 26, 2026 | Montgomery Township | A black bear was seen near Montgomery Commons on North Wales Road |
| Aug. 26, 2026 report | Wyncote (Cheltenham) | A coyote reported as aggressive near Curtis Park, Hopeland Road and Washington Lane was put down and tested positive for rabies |
From local news reports listed under Sources.
Coyotes now live in every Pennsylvania county, so a sighting in a back yard in Glenside or Montgomeryville isn’t strange anymore. Bears are rarer here, but the 2026 bear covered a lot of ground in a few days, from Towamencin through Lansdale to Blue Bell. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southeast Region office is at 610-926-3136.
What Pennsylvania law expects of dog owners
Pennsylvania’s Dog Law (§ 459-305) requires owners to keep a dog confined on their property, whether by a collar and chain, a fence or another device. A fence isn’t the only way to comply, but it’s the one most families choose, and it keeps a dog from leaving the yard to chase something it shouldn’t. Dogs that have been declared dangerous face much stricter enclosure rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
Building a dog fence that also discourages coyotes
- Use the full height you’re allowed in back. That’s 6 ft in most of our townships, and 6 ft 6 in in Upper Gwynedd and North Wales. A 4 ft fence keeps many dogs in but is a low bar for a wild animal that wants in.
- Close the bottom. Keep the gap under panels small and even, and where a dog (or something outside) likes to dig, add welded wire buried along the base or bent outward into the yard as an apron.
- Make gates self-closing and self-latching. Most escapes, in and out, happen at a gate someone left open.
- Consider solid over see-through. A privacy fence hides the dog from whatever passes outside, which also cuts down on fence-running and barking.
- Mind the spacing on picket styles. Lansdale already caps picket gaps at 4 in, a sensible number for small dogs anywhere.
- Still supervise at dawn and dusk. A fence lowers the risk to a small dog; it doesn’t remove it.
Local rules that shape a dog fence
| Municipality | What matters for a pet fence |
|---|---|
| Lansdale Borough | No fences made exclusively of wire, so a stand-alone welded-wire dog run is out; picket uprights no more than 4 in apart; 6 ft in side and rear yards |
| Montgomery Township (Montgomeryville) | Electric fences only for agricultural uses; barbed wire and razor wire prohibited for homes; chicken runs need permit approval and at least 4 ft of fence |
| Horsham | Barbed wire and electric fences only for agriculture on lots over 10 acres; invisible pet fencing is expressly excepted |
| Towamencin | No diamond or rectangular chain link in front yards; welded wire is allowed against a post-and-rail or split-rail fence |
| Upper Moreland (Willow Grove) | Wire fences prohibited; chain link must be vinyl-coated |
| Worcester | No barbed wire around homes |
| Cheltenham (Elkins Park, Wyncote) | Front yard: open fences only, up to 4 ft; side and rear up to 6 ft |
| Whitpain (most of Blue Bell) | Fence rules not yet verified by us; ask the township |
Checked October 2026 from the zoning codes listed under Sources.
A common North Penn compromise, where the rules allow it, is split rail or post-and-rail with welded wire on the inside: open-looking from the street, tight enough for most dogs. Check first in Lansdale, where all-wire fences are banned, and in Upper Moreland, where wire fences are prohibited outright.
Comparing pet fence options
| Fence | Good for | Installed price guide (per ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft vinyl privacy | Small dogs, hiding the yard from passing animals, low upkeep | $45 to $75 |
| 6 ft pressure-treated pine privacy | Same job in wood, easy to repair board by board | $40 to $65 |
| 4 to 5 ft aluminum ornamental | Larger, calmer dogs; front yards with open-fence rules | $50 to $85 |
| 4 ft chain link, galvanized or black vinyl-coated | Long rear lines on a budget; vinyl-coated where required | $30 to $45 |
| 3-rail split rail (add welded wire where allowed) | Big lots and a rural look | $22 to $35 |
Our residential price guide before gates, removal and permits. A single walk gate runs $350 to $1,650. Your quote depends on the yard.
What about an invisible fence?
A buried-wire pet containment system works on your dog’s collar. It does nothing to stop a coyote coming in. It also creates a digging hazard for anyone who installs a real fence later: PA One Call doesn’t mark those wires. If you have one, show us where it runs before we dig a post hole.
Bears: what a fence can and can’t do
Be realistic about bears. A residential fence keeps your dog in and a curious bear at a distance, but a black bear that wants to get into a yard can climb or push through ordinary fencing. If one is reported in your neighborhood, bring the dog inside, and contact the Game Commission’s Southeast Region office if a bear keeps coming back.
Backyard chickens
Montgomery Township allows backyard chicken runs with permit approval and a fence at least 4 ft high. For a run meant to keep out coyotes and foxes, plan a covered top and a floor or buried apron, not just walls. Check your own township’s rules before building one.
Every dog and every yard is a little different. At the free estimate, tell us the size and habits of your dog (jumper, digger, escape artist) and we’ll suggest a height, style and gate setup that fits both the dog and your township’s code.
Common questions
Can I add an electric wire to the top of my fence for coyotes?
Not in Montgomery Township, where electric fences are limited to agricultural uses, or in Horsham, where they’re limited to agriculture on lots over 10 acres. Elsewhere, ask the zoning office before adding one.
Will a 4 ft aluminum fence keep coyotes out?
It keeps many dogs in, but it’s a low barrier for a wild animal. In coyote-prone areas we suggest the full back-yard height your township allows, with a tight bottom.
Does Pennsylvania require me to fence my dog?
The Dog Law requires confinement, and a fence is one way to meet it. See our answer on the PA Dog Law.