Short answer
In Towamencin Township a front-yard fence can be 3 ft high, or up to 4 ft on a residential lot if it has at least 2.5 parts open area to 1 part solid and doesn't block views at intersections, streets or crosswalks. Diamond- or rectangular-pattern chain link isn't allowed in front yards. On a corner lot, every yard facing a street counts as a front yard. A township permit is required.
Towamencin's front-yard numbers
| Fence | Front yard | Side and rear |
|---|---|---|
| Any fence or wall | Up to 3 ft | Up to 6 ft |
| Open fence on a residential lot (at least 2.5:1 open to solid) | Up to 4 ft | Up to 6 ft |
| Chain link, diamond or rectangular pattern | Not allowed | Allowed within the height limits |
| Part of a fence above 6 ft | n/a | Only if that part is at least 4:1 open to solid |
Towamencin Zoning §§ 153-604 and 153-605.
What does 2.5 to 1 open look like?
The code compares open area to solid area. At 2.5 to 1, the open space is about 71% of the fence face. A few ways to get there:
- Split rail or post-and-rail. Two or three rails with wide gaps easily clear the ratio. The code specifically allows welded wire against a post-and-rail or split-rail fence, which is the usual way to keep a dog in a front yard here.
- Aluminum picket. Slim pickets with wide spacing are mostly air. We check the manufacturer's picket width and gap against the ratio before quoting.
- Wood picket. Possible, but a common 3.5-in picket with a 2-in gap is far too solid for 4 ft. Pickets would need to be spaced much wider, or kept at 3 ft.
A 4-ft solid board, vinyl privacy or tightly spaced picket fence in the front yard won't qualify, no matter how it looks.
Corner lots: two front yards
Section 153-605A says all yards abutting a street are treated as front yards. On a corner lot in Kulpsville or anywhere else in the township, that means the side of the house facing the second street is held to the same 3-ft (or 4-ft open) limit, not 6 ft. The code also says no fence, wall or planting may block views at a street intersection or crosswalk, without giving a fixed distance, so we keep corners low and open.
Easements and the right-of-way
Towamencin is strict here. The code allows no fence within any easement, retention or detention basin, or the ultimate right-of-way of a street, and the permit application repeats it, with the word NOT in capitals. The code also mentions written consent from whoever holds the easement, so ask the township before counting on an exception. The ultimate right-of-way can extend past the curb into what looks like your lawn, so we find that line on your plot plan before placing a front fence.
Filing the permit
Fences need a township construction permit. The Consolidated Residential Permit Application (revised July 2026) carries a $95 zoning fee and asks for two plot plans showing the fence's location and dimensions and existing features. It goes by mail or in person to 1090 Troxel Road, Lansdale (215-368-7602; permits@towamencin.org). We have not confirmed whether a building fee is added on top of the zoning fee.
Lansdale address, Towamencin rules
Towamencin homes often carry a Lansdale mailing address, but the borough's rules don't apply to them. Lansdale bans all-wire fencing and caps front fences at 3 ft; Towamencin allows 4 ft if it is open enough and permits welded wire on a rail fence. Check your tax bill before you design.
We can show you front-yard styles that meet the 2.5:1 ratio side by side at your estimate, with the numbers for each.
Common questions
Can I put a pool fence in the front yard?
Pools normally go behind the house. Towamencin's pool chapter requires a wire-mesh or solid fence 48 in to 6 ft high, with no vertical gap over 2 in, around pools deeper than 2 ft.
Is a hedge treated like a fence in the front yard?
Plantings also can't block views at intersections or crosswalks. The fence height rule is written for fences and walls.
Do I need my HOA's approval too?
If you have an association, yes. The township permit and the HOA approval are separate.