Before hiring a fence company in Abington, PA review the zoning regulations relevant to fences in Abington Township. This article will provide a concise overview of these rules, aiding residents in making informed decisions when installing fences.
Abington Township includes the following unincorporated communities:
- Abington
- Ardsley
- Crestmont
- Elkins Park
- Fitzwatertown
- Fox Chase
- Glenside
- Hollywood
- Huntingdon Valley
- Jenkintown
- McKinley
- Meadowbrook
- Noble
- North Hills
- Roslyn
- Roychester
- Rydal
- Willow Grove
The Code Enforcement Division of Abington Township handles zoning and permits for fences in these communities. Please note that many of these communities also partially fall within neighboring municipalities, so you must comply with the zoning regulations of those townships, etc.
Your HOA may have additional rules regarding fence installation. Check with your HOA before starting a fence project. The following are examples of HOAs in Abington Township:
- Abington Terrace
- Brentwood Manor
- Overlook Hills
- Roslyn
- Rydal Green
- Rydal Waters
- Village Green
While we try to keep this overview current, we do not represent Abington Township. For the latest official information, check with the Code Enforcement Division.
How tall can a fence be in Abington Township?
Fences are limited to 4 feet in height within front yard areas and 6 feet in height in all other yard areas. Corner properties are considered to have two front yards (when facing public streets and/or right-of-way areas).
Do you install the “nice side” of the fence towards you or your neighbor?
The “nice” or finished side of the fence must be installed facing your neighbors. This is true even if the fence is a replacement.
How close to the property line can you build a fence in Abington Township?
In Abington Township, PA you can build a fence within five feet of the property line, but only with a permit. Here’s a breakdown of the regulations:
- Permit Required: No fence can be built within five feet of a property line without first obtaining a building permit.
- Boundary Survey: To get a permit, you’ll need to provide a boundary survey with marked corners by a registered engineer or la
Zoning Code For Fences in Abington Township
The following are the sections of the Abington Township Zoning Code relevant to fences.
3311.0 Retaining walls:
3311.1: When the adjoining grade is not higher than the legal level, the person causing an excavation to be made shall erect, when necessary, a retaining wall at his own expense and on his own land. Such wall shall be built to a height sufficient to retain the adjoining earth, shall be properly coped and shall be provided with a guardrail or fence not less than four feet in height.
3311.2: No fence, screening, wall or retaining wall shall be erected on or encroach within five feet of an established property line without first securing a building permit.
No permit for a fence, screening, wall or retaining wall shall be issued until satisfactory evidence is presented to the Building Inspector of a boundary survey with its corners properly marked by monuments or stakes placed under the direction of a registered engineer or land surveyor.
Walls built to retain or support the lateral pressure of earth, water or other superimposed loads, shall be designed and constructed of approved masonry, reinforced concrete, steel sheet piling or other approved materials within the allowable stresses of engineering practices, and subject to the approval of the Township Engineer and the Building Inspector and in conformance with the Township of Abington Subdivision Ordinance.[5]
A retaining wall of approved construction, designed by a registered civil engineer or architect, shall be required for all permanent land fills or excavations which exceed three feet in height or depth along a property boundary line, unless, a 1:1 natural slope of the land can be maintained entirely within the boundaries of the excavated or filled property.
Retaining walls of less than three feet in height, erected entirely within the interior of a property and not encroaching within five feet of boundary line, will not require a permit.
3311.3 Fences:
3311.4 No fence, screening or wall except an open wire fence or a retaining wall shall be erected on any property and/or in any yard to a greater height than six feet unless authorized by a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board after a public hearing.
3311.5 In any case where a fence or wall or screening is erected within five feet of a property line, satisfactory evidence must be presented to the Building Department of a boundary survey with its corners properly marked by monuments or stakes placed under the direction of a registered engineer or land surveyor, unless the boundary line in question can be easily established by the Building Official.
3311.6 Any fence, screening or wall installed within 10 feet of a front property line may be of a type or height which will create a vision obstruction for any motorist and must be removed or installed as the Building Official directs.
421.9 Swimming pool safety devices: Every person owning land on which there is situated a swimming pool, fish pond or other body of water which could contain 12 inches or more of water in depth at any point, shall erect and maintain thereon an adequate enclosure, surrounding pool area sufficient to make such body of water inaccessible to small children. Such enclosure including gates therein must be not less than 4 feet above the underlying ground: all gates must be self-closing, self-latching, with latches placed 4 feet above the underlying ground or otherwise made inaccessible from the outside to small children.
(1) Wood pickets shall be three-fourths-inch stock, two inches maximum space between pickets.
(2) Iron or aluminum pickets shall be not less than one inch square with a maximum of four inch spaces between. Horizontal supports shall have not less than 16 inches between.
(3) All wire fencing must be of the chain link type, minimum eleven gauge, 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches maximum openings. Wire fencing may be galvanized, plated or vinyl coated. Vinyl shall be minimum of two gauge in thickness.
(4) No natural barriers, pool covers or alternate devices will suffice for swimming pool enclosures.
(5) Solid type fencing enclosures shall not be of a greater height than six feet (one square foot for each 150 square feet of foundation space).
§ 62-3 Fee for late permit application.
[Added 7-9-2009 by Ord. No. 1982]
The fee for obtaining any permit for work which has already been commenced or completed, when, pursuant to Township ordinances, codes and regulations, the permit or permits were required to have been obtained prior to commencing the work, shall be 150% of the amount of the fee required for the timely filing of the application, as such fees may from time to time be set by ordinance or resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
