Fence Regulations in Erie, PA (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Erie, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Fence Height Limits in Erie
Some RestrictionsCity of Erie, PA Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 80-2005), Sec. 205.19
205.19 In a Residential District any fence, hedge or enclosure within the required yard space shall not exceed a height of six (6) feet six (6) inches. In a non-Residential District any fence, hedge or enclosure within the required yard space shall not exceed a height of eight (8) feet six (6) inches. Where there is a boundary line between the two districts, the less restrictive 8'6" height ...
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.
Erie Fence Permit Fees and Property-Line Rules
Some RestrictionsCity of Erie, Residential Building Permits - Fences (Bureau of Code Enforcement); City of Erie Codified Ordinances, Article 1129, QOL-25 (Working without a Permit)
To submit an application for a building permit, visit the Code Enforcement office in Room 407 of the City of Erie Municipal Building. Fences: Fences may be placed up to but may not exceed your property line. Be sure to consult with the zoning officer if you are unsure of the exact dimensions of your parcel. Fences may not exceed 6’6” in a residential district. Cost of Fence / Fees: $0 – $2,000 ...
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.
Erie Retaining Walls Under 4 Feet Skip Permit
Some RestrictionsCity of Erie Codified Ordinances § 1503.41(c)(1)B (Permit requirements and exemptions)
Retaining walls that are not over four feet in height measured from the lowest level of grade to the top of the wall unless the wall supports a surcharge.
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.
Fence Material and Visibility Rules
Few RestrictionsCity of Erie, PA Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 80-2005), Sec. 205.19
Any fence, hedge or enclosure that is not of a "see-through" nature and obstructs vision ... shall not exceed a height of (30) inches above the top of the curb. Seventy percent (70%) of the fence, hedge or enclosure's area shall be open to be considered "see-through."