Short answer
Wood post-and-rail or board fence is the usual choice for horses here, often with welded wire or an electric offset strand inside so horses don't lean on or chew the rails. Lower Gwynedd's code requires horse grazing areas to be fenced to contain the horses at all times. Both Lower Gwynedd and Whitemarsh cap fences at 6 ft in required yards and restrict fencing near streams, so plan paddocks around creek buffers.
Horse country next to the suburbs
Lower Gwynedd, which takes in Gwynedd, Gwynedd Valley, Penllyn and Spring House, is known as an equestrian community, with large lots and about 20 miles of trails. Next door in Flourtown, Erdenheim Farm covers 475 acres across Springfield and Whitemarsh, all but 23 of them under conservation easement. It was a noted Thoroughbred, Angus and sheep farm and was listed on the National Register in 2026.
Fence types for horses
| Type | Strengths | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Post-and-rail (split rail) | Open, rural look; about $22–35 per foot for 3-rail wood | Foals, ponies and small dogs can slip between rails; add welded wire on the inside |
| Board fence | Very visible to horses, classic farm look | Horses chew and lean on boards; plan on repairs, or protect the top board |
| Rail fence with an electric offset strand | Keeps horses off the rails, so the fence lasts longer | Check your township first; we found no rule in Lower Gwynedd or Whitemarsh, while Montgomery Township allows electric only for agriculture |
| Barbed wire | None for horses | Not used around horses; Montgomery Township and Horsham restrict it to agricultural uses |
Township rules in Lower Gwynedd and Whitemarsh
| Rule | Lower Gwynedd | Whitemarsh |
|---|---|---|
| Height | No fence over 6 ft in any required yard | Front yard up to 4 ft (5 ft if set back 10 ft, 6 ft if set back 15 ft); side and rear up to 6 ft |
| Corner lots | Every yard facing a street is a front yard | 50-ft clear sight triangle at intersecting streets |
| Streams | Floodplain district doesn't list fences as a permitted use; no tree or vegetation removal within 20 ft of a stream bank; a DEP permit for work within 50 ft of the top of bank | Riparian Corridor Overlay prohibits permanent structures, including fences, except as needed for certain permitted uses |
| Permit | Required; checklist calls for plans at 1 in = 20 ft or larger showing setbacks and trees 6 in or more within 50 ft | Not confirmed in our research; we check with the township |
Checked October 2026 from the cited code. Codes change; we confirm with the zoning office before every install.
Pennsylvania's Fence Law and your neighbor
Pennsylvania's Fence Law, dating to 1905, deals with fences between farms. It sets up fence viewers and a magistrate process for disputes, and no one can be compelled to build or repair a fence from December through March. In Fogle v. Malvern Courts, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held it doesn't apply to ordinary suburban neighborhoods. Whether it reaches a horse farmette next to a subdivision is a question for a Pennsylvania real-estate attorney, not us. This isn't legal advice.
Planning the paddock
- Walk the line and mark creek banks, the floodplain edge and big trees first; the buffers may decide where the paddock can go.
- Size gates for the tractor and the trailer. Double drive gates for 8–12 ft openings run about $800–2,500 installed.
- Brace corners and gate posts; a horse leaning on a fence finds the weakest post.
- Set posts below the 36-in frost benchmark, deeper at gates.
- Keep the rails on the horse side where you can, so a horse pushing on the fence presses rails into posts instead of off them.
We'll walk the pasture with you, mark the stream buffers and gate spots, and price the run both with and without wire backing.
Common questions
Can I use an electric fence for horses in Lower Gwynedd?
We didn't find an electric-fence rule in Lower Gwynedd's or Whitemarsh's code. Ask the township before installing one, and keep it inside a visible rail or board fence.
Do I need a permit for a paddock fence?
In Lower Gwynedd, yes; the fencing checklist lists what the plans must show. In Whitemarsh, the permit requirement wasn't confirmed in our research, so we ask.
Can my paddock run down to the creek?
Probably not all the way. Lower Gwynedd keeps fences out of its floodplain district, and Whitemarsh's Riparian Corridor Overlay bars fences except in limited cases.