Neighbor Fence Rules: Penn Hills vs Pittsburgh
How do neighbor fence rules rules compare between Penn Hills, PA and Pittsburgh, PA?
Penn Hills has fewer restrictions than Pittsburgh.
Penn Hills, PA
Allegheny County
Pennsylvania has no Good Neighbor fence cost-sharing statute. Each Penn Hills owner pays for their own fence. Finished/good side faces the adjoining property by custom and zoning direction.
View full Penn Hills rules →Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny County
Pittsburgh requires the finished side of a fence to face outward toward neighbors. Fences on shared property lines are co-owned with equal maintenance responsibility. Walls over 40 feet need visual relief.
View full Pittsburgh rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Penn Hills | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Sharing | Not required | - |
| Good Side Rule | Faces neighbor | - |
| Boundary Surveys | Recommended | - |
| Spite Fence | Common-law doctrine applies | - |
| Adverse Possession | 21 years in PA | - |
| Finished Side | - | Must face outward toward neighbor/public way |
| Shared Boundary | - | Co-owned with equal maintenance responsibility |
| Long Walls | - | Over 40 feet require visual relief features |
| Code Section | - | Zoning Code Section 918.03 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Penn Hills FAQ
Can I make my neighbor pay half the cost of a shared fence?
No. Pennsylvania has no good-neighbor cost-sharing statute for residential fences. Each owner pays for fencing on their own property unless both sign a written agreement.
What if my neighbor's fence is actually on my land?
Get a boundary survey. Encroachment is a civil matter in PA Magisterial District Court. Leaving it more than 21 years can give rise to adverse-possession claims under PA common law.
Pittsburgh FAQ
Which side of the fence has to face my neighbor in Pittsburgh?
The finished or decorative side of the fence must face the adjacent property or public right-of-way. The structural side with posts and rails faces inward toward the fence owner.
Who pays for a fence on the property line in Pittsburgh?
Under Pennsylvania common law, fences built directly on a shared property line are considered co-owned, and both neighbors share maintenance costs equally.
Compare other topics
See how Penn Hills and Pittsburgh compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool