Bethlehem, PA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Bethlehem treats fence height generously compared with most PA cities. Section 1318.13 (Fences and Terraces in Front Yards) explicitly states that the front-yard setback regulations of § 1318.09 do not apply to front fences, hedges, or walls less than seven (7) feet high above the natural grade, nor to terraces, steps, uncovered porches, or other similar features not over three (3) feet high. Section 1318.15 carries the same seven-foot allowance into side yards, and the rear-yard regulation similarly exempts fences, hedges, or walls not over seven feet high. The practical effect: a single homeowner can install up to a seven-foot fence on any yard in any residential district without a yard-setback variance, which is unusual - most PA municipalities cap residential front-yard fences at 4 ft and rear at 6 ft. Bethlehem's higher cap reflects the dense, older residential neighborhoods (South Side, West Bethlehem, Northeast) where seven-foot wood fences and walls have been historically common. Two important caveats: First, Section 1318.06 (Traffic Visibility Across Corners) prohibits any structure, fence, planting, or other obstruction between 2.5 feet and 10 feet above curb level within the 25-foot corner sight triangle on residential corner lots (reduced to 8 ft in commercial districts) - so a 7-foot fence on a corner lot must stop short of that triangle. Second, the seven-foot fence must still comply with the Section 1318.06 sight triangle at any private accessway / public street intersection (8-foot triangle with 2.5-foot max obstruction). Height is measured above natural grade; a fence sitting on top of a retaining wall is measured from the bottom of the wall, not the top. Properties in the South Bethlehem Historic Conservation District or the Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission (BHCC) review area may have additional design-review requirements before installing tall fences in visible areas.