Lancaster County sets no fence-height rule. Each of the 60 municipalities does, under the PA Municipalities Planning Code. Typically fences top out around 42 inches in front yards and 6 feet in side/rear yards. Confirm with your city, borough, or township zoning officer.
Pennsylvania counties do not zone. Fence heights are fixed by your municipality's zoning ordinance, authorized by MPC §603(b) (53 P.S. §10603) to regulate the “height… of structures.” Manheim Township caps residential fences at 42 inches in any front yard and 6 feet in any other yard. East Hempfield Township allows 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards. Lancaster City regulates fences under §300-25 of Chapter 300. Because the exact limit depends on which of Lancaster County's 60 municipalities and which zoning district you are in, always verify locally before building.
Municipal zoning enforcement: a stop-work order, removal of the over-height fence, and daily fines set by the local ordinance (commonly up to $500/day). No county penalty exists.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Lancaster County has no backyard-composting ordinance. Home composting is allowed statewide and encouraged by PA DEP; nuisance limits (odor, rodents, setback...
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Lancaster County does not regulate artificial turf. Whether you may install synthetic lawn, and any impervious-coverage or stormwater limits, is set by your ...
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Lancaster County does not require or restrict native-plant landscaping. Whether a meadow or native garden is allowed depends on your municipality's grass/wee...
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Rainwater collection is legal statewide in Pennsylvania; neither Lancaster County nor the state restricts it, and PA DEP encourages rain barrels for stormwat...
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Lancaster County sets no watering schedule. Water-use restrictions in Pennsylvania come from the state Drought Task Force and PA DEP. Watering limits are vol...
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Lancaster County sets no weed ordinance; your municipality does (e.g., Lancaster City's six-inch limit). Statewide, Pennsylvania's Controlled Plants and Noxi...
See how Lancaster County's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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