Do you need a permit to put a fence up in Philadelphia?
You need permits for certain kinds of fencing. You probably need a permit if your fence will be: Taller than 6 feet. Made of heavy material, like masonry or concrete.
All fences shall be set back a minimum of six inches from all side and rear yard property lines.
In Pennsylvania, a fence placed directly on the property line is shared between neighbors when it comes to the cost of installation and maintenance or repair. If your municipality allows you to install a fence on your property line, which is common in more densely populated cities and boroughs, keep this in mind.
Planning permission is generally required if the fence is higher than 2 metres – and potentially as low as 1 metre if the fence is by a road. You can also apply for retroactive planning permission, if your fence accidentally exceeds regulations, or if another person can raise reasonable objections.
Yes, you can build next to your neighbour's fence. As long as you're inside your property line you're fine. One consideration: your posts might have to be staggered relative to the fence posts of the existing fence. Staggered posting avoids interference with existing piers.
You may need to obtain a permit before you're able to build a fence on your property. The height of your potential fence, the location of your property, and where on the property the fence is set to be built will determine if a permit is necessary.
This means local authorities can't serve enforcement notices for an unauthorised development when seven years have passed since the commencement of the development.
Check Rules and Regulations
Typically, fences are installed anywhere from 2 to 8 inches from a property line in most areas. Some areas might allow to go right up to a property line, especially if you live in an urban row house where every inch makes a difference!
Walls and fences are most likely to have been built on the land that belongs on the boundary's owner with the further edge of the wall making the actual boundary. Because of this, you can often guess who owns a fence by looking at where the frames are.
Also known as boundary by consent or acquiescence, the doctrine allows property title to pass to the other owner where adjoining landowners establish a "mutually respected boundary either by mistake or dispute and compromise." The 21-year requirement can be met by adding time from one owner to his successor.
Do you need a permit to build a fence in PA?
A zoning permit is required to put up a fence. A drawing of your property showing where the fence will be, how far off the property line and the fence height needs to be submitted with the application. The fence must be at least one(1) foot off the property line and cannot be taller than six(6) feet.
If your Neighbor's tree along your property line is a hazard
If all or any portion of a hazard tree falls on your property, and your neighbor was aware of or should have known that it was dangerous, your neighbor is responsible for any damage that you suffered, including your cost of removal.
Any fence or wall over 2 metres or 6.6ft high needs planning permission.
The laws actually state that a fence can be as high as 100 meters. However, this is only allowed if proper planning permits have been obtained. This means that any fence under 2 meters in height does not require a permit. This simple law has a few complications to it.
Fence Laws In California: A Quick Overview
For a front yard fence, the maximum height is 42 inches. For a backyard fence, the maximum height is 72 inches. If you're sharing a fence with a neighbor, your fence must be a minimum of 60 inches high and be free of gaps that a small child might pass through.
You can often guess who owns a fence by looking at where the frames are – the builders or property owners should have put the fence up facing away from their own property so their neighbour gets the 'good' side. This should be repeated with the neighbour on the other side so each home has one 'bad' and one 'good' side.
If your fence is set within your boundary, which a lot of people do as then they do not have to ask their neighbors for permission to erect a fence, then your neighbors should not have attached their fence to yours as the fence front and back completely belongs to you.
There is no general rule about whether you own the fence on the left or the fence on the right of your property. The first place to look to see which boundaries you own and are responsible for maintaining is your title deeds. Learn how conveyancing solicitors can help.
It's easy to learn how to build a wood fence using either fence “pickets” or ready-made panels. Vinyl and metal fences typically come as kits with pre-assembled panels and matching posts. Learning how to build any fence requires careful planning and construction.
We are all accustomed to seeing fences around fields and around the gardens of individual houses. So it may come as a surprise to learn that there is no general obligation in law to fence the boundaries of one's land.
Who gets the good side of the fence?
The finished side should face toward your neighbor. Not only is this more polite, but it's the standard. Your property will look a lot nicer with the “good” side facing the outside world. Otherwise, your fence will look like it was installed backward.
Physical boundaries are identified on the ground and on maps and deeds by using physical features such as fences, walls, ditches, rivers, hedges, etc. Unlike a hypothetical line such features, in actuality, have thickness. In the case of fences, walls and hedges their thickness will change as they grow.
Generally speaking, if you have been occupying lands that you do not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use in excess of 12 years (or in the case of Crown lands 30 years), without any objection from the registered owner, you can claim what is known as “adverse possession”.
Whilst the deeds provide a starting position to determine your boundary, you do need to bear in mind that it is possible for boundaries to be altered. Most commonly this is either by agreement between previous owners of your properties, or by a legal doctrine known as adverse possession.
The rules are that fence posts must be on the owner's side of the boundary. However, there is no law that states the smooth side must face either way. It is entirely up to the owner which way the fence will face.
Find your property line by visiting your local county recorder or assessor's office. You can access public maps of your street and locate your boundaries. Many counties also let you access property lines online. If your property is on platted land, you may be able to access the plat maps online.
Before building, homeowners should check with their local zoning or building department. In some places, there must be 5 – 15 feet between a structure and the property line. In some cases, you must obtain a neighbor's permission to build.
For creeping plants that will grow up and over your side of a neighbour's fence, you must ask permission from the owner of the fence, which will likely be graciously given.
Only the owner of the fence may make any changes to it, even where the other side of the fence is on neighbouring property.
Normally, the householder who owns the fence is responsible for maintaining and repairing it.
Do you need a permit for a fence in PA?
A zoning permit is required to put up a fence. A drawing of your property showing where the fence will be, how far off the property line and the fence height needs to be submitted with the application. The fence must be at least one(1) foot off the property line and cannot be taller than six(6) feet.
Fence Laws In California: A Quick Overview
Under California's Building Code, you must obtain a permit before building a fence that will be over 6 feet tall unless the top 2 feet of the fence will be barbed wire. For a front yard fence, the maximum height is 42 inches.
The laws actually state that a fence can be as high as 100 meters. However, this is only allowed if proper planning permits have been obtained. This means that any fence under 2 meters in height does not require a permit. This simple law has a few complications to it.
A fencing permit is secured by the real property owner prior to the construction of a fence. REQUIREMENT(S): ● Fencing Plan. ●
There is no set standard for residential fence height. However, each city has its own fence height regulations that you must adhere to. Common heights for front yard fences are around 3 feet, while common heights for backyard fences are between 6 and 8 feet.
If the fence is a partnership, firm, corporation or association, the president or the manager or any officer thereof who knows or should have known the commission of the offense shall be liable.
This Permit serves as proof of authorization for the removal/cutting of trees in public and private places that pose danger to the human lives and/or properties as evaluated by DENR, or trees that are planted within tenured forestland or private land.
Connected group of wires, woods, or other materials surrounding real property to either protect it or act as a barrier against others.