Short answer
Not on their own. Lansdale Borough's zoning code says "fencing which is exclusively wire fencing is prohibited," and the borough also asks for natural-looking materials. A fence of wire mesh on T-posts would not pass. Welded wire fastened to a wood post-and-rail frame is not exclusively wire, but the borough makes the call, so we confirm the design with Code Enforcement before building one. We also ask how chain link is treated.
What Lansdale's code actually says
Section 405-1801H of the borough zoning chapter is one sentence: "Fencing which is exclusively wire fencing is prohibited." The borough's fence rules also say fences must be of natural-looking materials. Neither line defines "wire fencing," and the code does not list approved materials.
Read plainly, the rule is about fences that are nothing but wire: rolls of welded wire, woven field fence or hardware cloth stapled to metal stakes. It does not say a fence can't contain any wire.
Which designs are likely fine, and which aren't
| Design | How it reads against the rule | Our approach |
|---|---|---|
| Welded wire or field fence on metal T-posts | Exclusively wire on stakes | Not allowed; we don't propose it in the borough |
| Welded wire on a wood post-and-rail or split-rail frame | Wood frame with wire infill, not exclusively wire | Likely acceptable; confirm on the permit drawing |
| Wood picket or board fence with mesh on the inside | A wood fence with a lining | Generally fine; mesh goes on the inside so the finished side faces out |
| Aluminum picket | Metal pickets and rails, not wire | Common choice for dogs and front yards |
| Chain link | Woven steel wire on steel posts | Not clear; we ask Code Enforcement before quoting it |
Our reading of § 405-1801H. The borough's zoning officer has the final word.
What about chain link in Lansdale?
We could not find a borough statement on whether chain link counts as "exclusively wire." Chain link fabric is woven wire, but it hangs on steel posts and top rails, and many people would not call it a wire fence. Rather than guess, we ask Code Enforcement when a Lansdale customer wants chain link, and we show them an aluminum or wood option alongside it so the project is not stuck waiting on the answer.
Dog runs and coyote worries
Lansdale police issued coyote notices in December 2024, and in May 2026 a young black bear walked from Towamencin into the borough, to the 2200 block of Berks Road, before wardens caught it in Whitpain. Those reports have more people asking about kennels and runs. In the borough, a run built from welded-wire panels alone runs straight into § 405-1801H. Two designs that work better here:
- A 5 or 6 ft wood or vinyl privacy section around the run, which also blocks the view a reactive dog fixes on.
- An aluminum picket fence with pickets no more than 4 in apart, the borough's own limit for picket spacing, which keeps medium and large dogs in. Small dogs may need tighter spacing along the bottom.
Keeping rabbits and groundhogs out of a garden
Penn State Extension's rabbit spec is a fence at least 24 in tall with no opening larger than 1 in, buried 2 to 3 in. In Lansdale, the way to meet that without an all-wire fence is a low wood frame, such as posts with a top and bottom rail, with the fine mesh fastened to the inside and the bottom edge turned into the soil. Expect to hit shale fragments when you bury the edge; the Penn soils here are full of them.
Before you buy a roll of wire
Garden-center fencing is sold in rolls with stakes, which is exactly the version the borough bans. If your address is in a township with a Lansdale mailing address rather than the borough itself, the wire rule may not apply. Towamencin's code, for example, specifically allows welded wire against a post-and-rail or split-rail fence in front yards. Check which municipality you are in first.
Tell us what you are trying to keep in or out, and we will show you designs that fit Lansdale's rules at the estimate.
Common questions
Can I use an invisible or electric dog fence instead?
Lansdale's fence chapter does not address buried pet-containment wire in what we read. That question is about the dog, not the zoning, so ask your vet and trainer.
Is hardware cloth around a chicken coop a fence?
A coop is usually treated as a structure, not a fence. Ask Code Enforcement about coops and runs before building.
Does the rule apply to a temporary garden fence?
The code does not carve out temporary fences. If it stays up through the season, assume the rule applies.