Short answer
A well-built 6-ft fence with no gaps and a dig guard along the bottom makes a yard much harder for a coyote to get into, but no residential fence is coyote-proof, and Cheltenham caps back-yard fences at 6 ft. After a coyote in Wyncote tested positive for rabies in August 2026, the practical plan is a tight fence plus supervision: don't leave small dogs or cats out alone, especially at dawn and dusk.
What happened in Wyncote
According to an Aug. 26, 2026 report, a coyote seen acting aggressively around Curtis Park, Hopeland Road and Washington Lane in Wyncote was put down and tested positive for rabies. Coyotes live in every Pennsylvania county, and they aren't new to the inner suburbs: Lansdale police put out coyote notices in December 2024. The Game Commission's Southeast Region office is at 610-926-3136.
What Cheltenham lets you build
| Rule | Cheltenham Township zoning |
|---|---|
| Front yard | Up to 4 ft, open fences only; an open fence cuts through-visibility by no more than 50% |
| Corner lots | Two front yards; the 4-ft open rule applies on both street sides |
| Side and rear | Up to 6 ft |
| Placement | No more than 5 ft from the property line, with the strip outside the fence kept accessible and maintained |
| Finished side | Faces neighbors and the street |
| Wyncote and La Mott historic districts | Changing a fence counts as an alteration that needs Board of Historical Architectural Review approval before the permit |
Checked October 2026 from the cited code. Codes change; we confirm with the zoning office before every install.
The front-yard rule matters for coyotes: a 4-ft open front fence won't keep one out, so the protected area is the back yard, closed off at the sides of the house with 6-ft sections and self-closing gates.
Features that matter more than the last foot of height
- No gaps at the bottom. A gap under the fence is the easiest way in. A wire apron buried along the inside of the fence line stops digging.
- Small openings. Solid boards, vinyl privacy or tight pickets. Wide-spaced pickets let small pets out and give nothing a reason to stay out.
- Gates that close themselves. A self-closing, self-latching gate shuts even when someone forgets.
- Nothing to climb. Keep woodpiles, trash cans and sheds off the fence line.
- Nothing to eat. Pet food, fallen bird seed and open compost draw animals to the fence in the first place.
Styles that suit Wyncote and Glenside houses
Wyncote's historic district covers more than 100 acres and 178 contributing buildings, many of them Queen Anne and stone Colonial Revival homes. A dark-stained board fence or a vinyl privacy panel in a muted color sits well behind those houses; black aluminum suits the open front yard. If you're in the historic district, plan time for BHAR review. In Glenside, check whether your address is in Cheltenham or Abington first; both allow 6 ft in the back yard, but the paperwork differs.
If you see a coyote
Bring pets in and keep your distance. Report an animal that's acting sick or aggressive to local police, and call the Game Commission's Southeast office for advice on wildlife problems.
We'll go over gaps, gates and grade with you at the estimate, the places coyotes and loose dogs actually get through.
Common questions
Is a 4-ft fence enough to protect a small dog?
Not from a coyote. Cheltenham limits front yards to 4 ft open fencing, so keep small dogs in a 6-ft back-yard enclosure and stay with them outside.
Do I need BHAR approval for a back-yard fence in Wyncote?
Cheltenham's code treats any change to a fence in the Wyncote or La Mott historical districts as an alteration needing review before a permit. Ask the township whether your project qualifies.
Will the same fence keep out bears?
Black bears have turned up in Lansdale and Montgomery Township in 2026. Our guide to dog fences for coyote and bear country covers both.