Short answer
Yes. Lansdale Borough lists fences among the projects that need a permit, so you apply to Code Enforcement at One Vine Street before any post goes in. The application asks for a dimensioned site plan and a copy of your contractor's written proposal or contract. Side and rear fences can be 6 ft, or 8 ft if the part above 6 ft is see-through, and front-yard fences are limited to short, open styles.
What goes in a Lansdale fence permit application?
The borough's Fence Permit Application is a short paper packet. It asks you to fill in every section, draw a dimensioned site plan on the graph page included in the packet (or attach your own plan), and include a copy of the written proposal or contract from whoever is building the fence. It is filed with Code Enforcement at One Vine Street, Lansdale (215-368-1691).
- Every section of the application completed and signed.
- A site plan with dimensions: the house, the lot lines, the fence run, gates, and distances to sidewalks, alleys and the curb.
- The fence height and style, so the reviewer can check it against the zoning chapter.
- A copy of the contractor's proposal or contract.
- Any easements or deed restrictions on the lot (see below).
We did not find a published permit fee or an online filing option in the material we read, so call Code Enforcement for the current fee and how they want it delivered.
What does the borough check the plan against?
The reviewer reads your drawing against Article XVIII of the borough's zoning chapter (Chapter 405) and the notes in the permit packet. These are the numbers that decide most Lansdale applications:
| Rule | What Lansdale requires |
|---|---|
| Where a fence may go | Between the front wall of the house and the rear lot line |
| Front yard | Only open "architectural" fences, 2 to 3 ft high, at least 75% open, on no more than 25% of the frontage |
| Side and rear yards | Up to 6 ft; up to 8 ft total if the part above 6 ft is not opaque |
| Lot lines along railroad property | A fully opaque fence up to 8 ft is allowed |
| Sidewalks and alleys | At least 2 ft away |
| Street curb | At least 10 ft away, with the sidewalk between fence and street |
| Ground | At natural grade, not on berms or mounds; kept straight |
| Finished side | Faces neighbors and streets |
| Materials | No fencing made only of wire; natural-looking materials |
| Pickets | Uprights no more than 4 in apart |
| Street corners | 75-ft clear sight triangle |
| Floodplain district | No fences, even by special exception |
Sources: Borough Code Ch. 405 §§ 405-1801, 405-1802, 405-2604A and the borough Fence Permit Application packet.
Is the front-yard limit 3 ft or 4 ft?
This is the one number where the borough's own papers disagree. The permit packet says an architectural front-yard fence may be up to 4 ft. The zoning code, § 405-1802D as amended in 2010, says the top of such a fence must be between 2 ft and 3 ft above existing grade. The code is the law, so we plan front-yard fences at 3 ft or under and ask Code Enforcement if a homeowner wants to go taller.
Why easements matter on a Lansdale application
The packet warns that approval is void if the applicant fails to disclose easements or deed restrictions. Lansdale grew up around the North Pennsylvania Railroad, and plenty of its lots back onto alleys, utility strips or rail property. Before you file, pull out your settlement papers and look for a recorded plan or deed language that mentions an easement along the back or side of the lot.
Is your 19446 address actually in the borough?
A Lansdale mailing address does not mean the borough issues your permit. ZIP 19446 also covers large parts of Upper Gwynedd, Towamencin and Hatfield townships, plus pieces of Montgomery and Worcester. Each has its own fence code and its own permit office. If your tax bill says one of those townships, start with its rules instead: Upper Gwynedd, Towamencin or Hatfield.
Do I need a permit to replace an old fence?
The borough's list of permit work covers fences and says the list is "not limited to" the items on it. We found no exemption for like-for-like replacement, so we treat a replacement as new fence work and file for it. It also gives the borough a chance to flag an old fence that sat too close to the sidewalk under today's 2-ft rule.
If we build your fence, we draw the site plan, include our proposal and file the packet with the borough. Ask us about it at the free estimate.
Common questions
Does a pool need its own permit in Lansdale?
Yes. In-ground and above-ground pools are both on the borough's permit list. We did not find a borough-specific pool-barrier standard in the zoning code, so the barrier is reviewed against the pool code the borough enforces.
Can I draw the site plan myself?
Yes. The packet includes a graph page for a hand-drawn plan. It needs real dimensions, not a sketch. See whether you need a survey.
Can I put the fence up and apply later?
We don't recommend it. A fence that turns out to break the curb, front-yard or grade rules can be ordered changed, and changing posts costs more than planning them.