Short answer
A pool, no. A fence, only with permission. PECO's right-of-way guidelines list pools, sheds, playsets and trampolines as not acceptable, and treat fencing as a restricted use that needs a PECO license, decided within 90 days, plus Pennsylvania PUC approval. Abington also keeps pools 10 vertical ft from power lines. In most of Lansdale Borough the electric utility is borough-owned Lansdale Electric, so ask them instead.
Transmission corridor or the wire to your house?
There are two different situations. A transmission right-of-way is a strip of land, often crossing many back yards, where PECO holds rights for big towers and lines. The service drop is the single wire from the pole to your house. The license process below is for the right-of-way; the vertical-clearance rules in township pool codes are about any overhead line, including the one to your house.
What PECO allows on its rights-of-way
| Use | PECO category |
|---|---|
| Fencing | Restricted: needs a PECO license, decided within 90 days, plus PUC approval |
| Swimming pools | Not acceptable |
| Sheds | Not acceptable |
| Playsets and trampolines | Not acceptable |
From PECO's right-of-way guidelines as published for trail projects. Ask PECO for the current version that applies to your parcel.
Restricted doesn't mean forbidden; it means you ask first and build only what the license allows. Ask what conditions come with it, such as where gates go so crews can get through.
Where these corridors run
Horsham's Power Line Trail follows a PECO right-of-way across the township, part of Horsham's 815 acres of parkland. Check your deed and plot plan: a recorded utility easement will show where PECO's rights start, and that line, not where the mowing stops, is what matters.
Outside the easement, your township's ordinary fence rules govern. In Horsham, for example, side and rear fences can go up to 6.5 ft, though a fence over 6 ft has to be at least 50% open over its whole area, and Horsham keeps fences out of the floodway entirely. So a back-line fence along a corridor is usually buildable; it just has to stop at the easement line unless PECO licenses more.
Pools near overhead lines
Abington's pool requirements keep a pool from sitting within 10 vertical ft of power lines, along with a 10-ft setback from side and rear lines and a ban on pools in swales. Other townships handle clearance through the pool code they adopt. Before a pool layout is final, look up: the service drop often crosses the very corner of the yard where a pool would fit best.
Lansdale Electric customers
Most of Lansdale Borough gets power from the borough-owned Lansdale Electric rather than PECO. If that's your utility, PECO's guidelines don't decide anything for you; ask Lansdale Electric about clearances and easements before you plan a pool or a fence near their lines.
Before you sign a contract
- Find any utility easement on your deed or subdivision plan.
- If your fence or pool would touch it, contact the utility and get the license or written answer before you order.
- Call PA One Call (811) at least 3 business days before digging; underground lines run in the same corridors.
- Pull the township fence or pool permit as usual. A utility license doesn't replace it.
We'll mark the easement line and any overhead wires on your plot plan, so the fence stops where it should and the pool lands in the clear.
Common questions
Can I fence along the edge of the right-of-way?
On your side of the easement line, normal township fence rules apply. The key is knowing exactly where that line is, which usually means a survey.
How long does PECO take to decide on a fence license?
PECO's guidelines say license requests are decided within 90 days, and fencing also needs PUC approval, so plan well ahead.
Does a PECO license replace the township permit?
No. You still need whatever fence or pool permit your township requires.