Fence Guide
Fence Permits in Delaware County, PA
How fence permitting actually works in Delaware County — why it is a township matter rather than a county one, what the application needs, and the requirements that most often cause a rejection.
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The most common misunderstanding about fence permits in Delaware County is that the county issues them. It does not. Fence permits are issued by the individual municipality — the township or borough your property sits in — and Delaware County contains dozens of them, each with its own ordinance, its own fee schedule and its own turnaround.
That means there is no single "Delaware County fence permit". Haverford Township, Radnor, Springfield, Newtown, Marple, Thornbury and Concord all regulate fencing separately, and the height you are permitted by right, the setback you must observe and whether you need a survey can differ from one side of a boundary road to the other.
Do you actually need a permit?
In most Delaware County municipalities, yes — a zoning or building permit is required for a new fence, and usually for a replacement as well. A small number of municipalities exempt fences below a certain height, and some treat pure replacement in the same location and same dimensions differently from new construction.
The safest assumption is that you need one. The cost of a fence permit is small; the cost of removing a fence that was installed without one, or that violates a height or setback requirement, is not. Municipalities in this county do enforce, usually on a neighbour complaint.
A pool barrier always requires a permit and an inspection, without exception.
What a fence permit application typically requires
The specific packet varies, but nearly every Delaware County municipality asks for the same core items.
- A completed zoning or building permit application for the property.
- A plot plan or survey showing the property boundaries with the proposed fence line drawn on it, including distances to the property lines.
- The fence specification — height, material, style, and whether it is solid or open.
- Gate locations and swing direction.
- The permit fee, which is set by the municipality.
- For a pool barrier, additional detail on gate hardware and barrier configuration.
The four requirements that most often cause a rejection
Height by yard type. Almost every municipality permits a taller fence in a rear yard than in a front yard. Six feet in the rear and four feet in the front is the common pattern, but the figures vary and so does the definition of where the front yard ends.
Corner lots. This is the single most frequent surprise. A corner property is generally treated as having two front yards, one facing each street, which means the lower front-yard height limit applies along both street frontages — not just the one the house faces. Homeowners routinely design a six-foot rear fence that turns out to run along a second front yard.
Setback from the property line. Some municipalities require the fence to be set back from the line; others permit it on the line. Building on or across a line you have not confirmed is the most expensive mistake available here, because the remedy is moving the fence.
The property line itself. Older Delaware County neighbourhoods are full of fences that were installed inside the true line, sometimes by a foot or more. If you rebuild along an existing fence you may be permanently conceding land, and if you rebuild along what you believe is the line without confirming it you may be building on your neighbour's. On a replacement, this is worth resolving before tear-out.
HOA review runs separately, and in parallel
If your property is in a homeowners association, architectural review is an entirely separate process from the municipal permit, with its own submission, its own committee and its own timeline. Approval from one is not approval from the other.
HOA standards commonly restrict material, colour and style, frequently require that a fence be finished identically on both sides, and may limit height below what the township would permit. Where the two conflict, the more restrictive governs in practice.
Submitting both at the same time is worth doing, because the two timelines run independently and sequencing them adds weeks.
How long it takes
Turnaround varies widely by municipality and by season — fence permit volume in this county spikes hard in spring. Some townships turn a straightforward residential fence permit around in a week or two; others take considerably longer, particularly where zoning review is involved or where the application is going to a meeting.
HOA architectural review is frequently the longer of the two, because committees meet on a fixed schedule rather than continuously.
When we install a fence we prepare and file the municipal application and the HOA submission on your behalf, and we schedule the crew against the permit rather than the other way around.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Delaware County issue fence permits?
No. Fence permits in Delaware County are issued by the individual township or borough, not by the county. Each municipality has its own fence ordinance, fee schedule and turnaround, so the requirements for your property come from your specific municipality.
Do I need a permit to replace an existing fence in Delaware County?
In most municipalities yes. A small number treat like-for-like replacement in the same location differently from new construction, but any change in height, material or line makes a permit near-certain. It is worth confirming with your township rather than assuming the original permit carries over.
How tall can a fence be in Delaware County, PA?
It depends on the municipality and on which yard the fence is in. Six feet in rear and side yards with four feet in front yards is the common pattern across Delaware County townships, but the figures and the definition of the front yard vary. Corner lots are usually treated as having two front yards, which catches many homeowners.
What happens if I install a fence without a permit?
Municipalities in Delaware County do enforce, typically after a neighbour complaint. Outcomes range from having to apply retroactively and pay a higher fee to being required to modify or remove a fence that does not meet the height or setback requirement. The permit cost is small relative to that risk.
Do I need a survey to get a fence permit?
Many municipalities require a plot plan or survey showing the proposed fence relative to the property boundaries. Even where it is not required, confirming the line is worth doing — older fences in this county frequently sit inside the true property line, and rebuilding along one can permanently concede land.
Does HOA approval replace the township permit?
No. They are entirely separate processes with separate submissions and timelines, and you generally need both. Where the HOA standard is more restrictive than the township ordinance, the HOA standard governs in practice.
