Lower Merion, PA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- LDR primary frontage fence
- 4 feet maximum
- LDR/MDR side and rear fence
- 6 feet maximum
- Institutional/LI side and rear
- 8 feet maximum
- Deer fence allowance
- up to 8 feet
- Corner lots
- no fence/hedge may obscure traffic view
- Measured from
- existing grade at fence location
Summary
Lower Merion caps residential fences at 4 feet along the primary frontage and 6 feet on side and rear lines in the LDR and MDR districts, per Table 3.7.1. Corner lots must also keep fences and hedges from obscuring the view of traffic.
On any corner lot, no wall, fence or other structure shall be erected or altered and no hedge, tree, shrub or other growth shall be maintained or other obstacle be placed so as to cause danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the view. ... Fence and wall height is limited according to Table 3.7.1, Fence Height. ... Table 3.7.1. Fence Height Fence Location LDR 1 and 2 (feet)1 2 LDR 3 and 4 (feet)5 MDR (feet)5 NC (feet) VC (feet) TC (feet) I (feet)2 LI (feet) MC, BMMD, RHR, BMV, CAD (feet) Primary frontage6 4 4 4 N/A N/A N/A 4 4 4 ... Side 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 8 6 Rear3 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 8 6 ... Estate fencing may be six feet in height along the primary frontage, except along a minor road where fencing eight shall be limited to four feet.
Full Breakdown
Section 155-3.7B sets fence and wall height by Table 3.7.1, Fence Height, measured from the existing grade at the fence's location, with private lot line and rear lot fences measured from yard grade. In LDR1, LDR2, LDR3, LDR4, and MDR districts, a primary frontage fence is capped at 4 feet, a secondary frontage fence at 6 feet, and frontage facade, side, and rear fences at 6 feet. Commercial districts (NC, VC, TC) do not use the frontage/secondary frontage categories, but their frontage facade, side, and rear fences are also capped at 6 feet, while the Institutional (I) and Light Industrial (LI) districts allow 8 feet on those same lines.
Fence posts and columns cannot exceed the fence top by more than six inches. Table footnotes add exceptions: estate fencing may reach 6 feet along a primary frontage (4 feet on a minor road); deer fencing may reach 8 feet (4 feet on a minor road); fences along a railroad right-of-way may reach 8 feet if the portion above 6 feet is 25% open; and residential fences adjacent to the VC or TC district get the same 8-foot, 25%-open allowance. Separately, Section 155-3.4H(1) bars any wall, fence, hedge, tree, shrub, or obstacle on a corner lot from causing a danger to traffic by obscuring the view, and corner lots carry two front setbacks under the same section.
The Board of Commissioners may approve a taller fence than the table allows when tied to an approved development plan and a demonstrated significant need.
Violations & Fines
An oversized or sight-obscuring fence is enforced by the Building and Planning Department as a zoning violation: the owner receives a notice to remove or lower the fence, and continued noncompliance can lead to a citation before the Magisterial District Court, with each day of violation potentially charged separately; obstructing a corner lot's sight lines can also draw a direct order to remove the obstruction as a traffic-safety matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a front yard fence be in Lower Merion?
How tall can a side or rear fence be in Lower Merion?
Are corner lot fences restricted differently in Lower Merion?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lower Merion
How Lower Merion compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Lower Merion to another location·View the Pennsylvania fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Montgomery County handle height limits.