Erie's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Erie, Pennsylvania, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Height Limits

Erie caps fences, hedges and enclosures in required yard space at 6 ft 6 in in Residential Districts and 8 ft 6 in in non-Residential Districts. Height is measured from the maximum grade on either side of the property.

Key details: Code Section: Zoning Ordinance Sec. 205.19. Residential Max: 6 ft 6 in. Non-Residential Max: 8 ft 6 in.

Zoning violations are enforced by the City of Erie Code Enforcement / Zoning Office; non-compliant fences must be lowered or removed. Contact the Zoning Office at (814) 870-1265.

Retaining Walls

A retaining wall in Erie does not need a building permit if it stands four feet or less, measured from the lowest grade to the top of the wall, and does not support a surcharge, per City Code Section 1503.41(c)(1)B. Commercial retaining walls get the same four-foot exemption unless the wall also holds back Class I, II or III-A liquids.

Key details: Permit-exempt height: 4 feet or less from grade to top. Exemption voided by: Any surcharge on the wall. Commercial exception: Walls impounding Class I/II/III-A liquids. Governing sections: § 1503.41(c)(1)B; § 1503.31(c)(1)C. No-permit penalty: Doubled fee, $100 minimum.

A retaining wall built over four feet, or a shorter wall that supports a surcharge, without first obtaining the required City permit triggers the same enforcement as any other unpermitted construction: Section 1503.51 doubles the fee that would have applied, with a minimum penalty of $100, and does not excuse the wall from having to meet Uniform Construction Code standards. The Building Code Official can also order the work stopped under Section 1503.52 until compliance is shown.

Fence Permit Requirements

A fence in Erie needs a City permit before it goes up, filed with the Code Enforcement office in Room 407 of the Municipal Building. The fee starts at a flat $50 for a fence costing $2,000 or less and climbs by $7 for every $1,000 above that, a different schedule than the $29.50 base fee charged for most other residential permits.

Key details: Where to apply: Code Enforcement, Room 407, City Hall. Fee, $2,000 or less: $50 flat. Fee, over $2,000: $50 + $7 per $1,000 over $2,000. Placement: Up to but not over the property line. Height cap noted: 6 ft 6 in in a residential district.

Putting up a fence without first obtaining the City permit is a ticketable Quality of Life offense under Article 1129's QOL-25 provision, carrying a $100 penalty per occurrence, separate from and in addition to the permit fee itself once the fence is brought into compliance. The City can also require the fence to be removed or brought through the permit process retroactively before treating the property as compliant.

Material Restrictions

Erie's zoning ordinance does not restrict fence materials by type, but it imposes an opacity rule near corners and driveways: a fence is only 'see-through' if 70 percent of its area is open.

Key details: Code Section: Zoning Ordinance Sec. 205.19. See-through standard: 70% open area. Material type limits: None generally specified.

A vision-obstructing solid fence in the clear-sight triangle must be reduced to 30 in or rebuilt to the 70 percent open standard; enforced by the Zoning Office, (814) 870-1265.

Erie is more permissive than most cities when it comes to material restrictions. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Erie's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Erie is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Erie's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.