Fence Regulations in Penn Hills, PA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Penn Hills or are thinking about moving there, fence regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Penn Hills has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fence regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Height Limits

Penn Hills zoning caps front-yard fences at four feet, three feet on corner lots, but allows side and rear yard fences up to eight feet without a permit.

Key details: Front yard fence: max 4 feet. Corner lot front yard: max 3 feet. Side/rear yard fence: up to 8 feet. Over 8 feet: permit required.

Fences built over these height limits without the required Planning and Economic Development permit violate § 1278.06 and are subject to Code Enforcement action to bring the property into compliance.

Fence Permit Requirements

In Penn Hills side and rear yards, fences over 8 feet need a permit from the Department of Planning and Economic Development, which must find the taller fence won't harm neighboring properties.

Key details: By-right height, side/rear: up to 8 feet. Permit needed: fences over 8 feet. Reviewing department: Planning and Economic Development. Standard applied: no detriment to adjacent property. Front yard cap: 4 feet, 3 feet on corners.

Building a fence over 8 feet in a side or rear yard without Department approval is a Zoning Code violation, enforceable by Code Enforcement under the Municipality's standard fine-and-imprisonment penalty schedule.

Retaining Walls

Any Penn Hills retaining wall supporting an excavation steeper than 1-to-1 must be engineered and sealed by a professional engineer and approved by the Municipal Engineer before it's built.

Key details: Engineering trigger: slope steeper than 1H:1V. Design requirement: licensed PA professional engineer seal. Approval: Municipal Engineer sign-off required. Governing chapter: Grading, Excavation and Fill. Related rule: echoed in SALDO § 1250.09.

Excavating a steep slope without an engineer-sealed, Municipal-Engineer-approved retaining wall is a grading permit violation; the Municipal Engineer can order the work stopped and the permit revoked or its bond forfeited.

The Bottom Line

Penn Hills'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 Penn Hills is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Penn Hills can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.