Penn Hills, PA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard fence
- max 4 feet
- Corner lot front yard
- max 3 feet
- Side/rear yard fence
- up to 8 feet
- Over 8 feet
- permit required
Summary
Penn Hills zoning caps front-yard fences at four feet, three feet on corner lots, but allows side and rear yard fences up to eight feet without a permit.
In required front yards. Walls, fences, or hedges not exceeding four feet in height, shrubs and trees, providing there is a substantially unobstructed view between four feet and 10 feet above ground level, open porches not more than one story or 14 feet in height, extending eight feet or less into the yard, provided no porch shall be constructed closer to the side lot than the required width of the side yard, enclosed vestibules not exceeding 25 square feet and not projecting more than five feet into the yard, and signs as permitted by other provisions of this Zoning Code. Exception: On corner lots, properties with two or more front yards, the maximum height of fences, hedges, and shrubbery shall be three feet in height.
B. In required side and rear yards, there are no limits on vegetation. Fences, walls, and retaining walls are limited to eight feet in height unless a permit is issued by the Department of Planning and Economic Development. The Department must determine that fences, walls, and retaining walls in excess of eight feet in height are not detrimental to adjacent properties and otherwise in compliance with local ordinances.
(3) Outdoor Storage. Uses otherwise permitted may utilize property for outdoor storage in conformance with the following performance standards:
A.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4434863; v5 updated 2025-07-21; through 07-21-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under § 1278.06(e)(2) of the Zoning Code for the Municipality of Penn Hills, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, a wall, fence, or hedge in a required front yard cannot exceed four feet, dropping to three feet on corner lots with two or more front yards. Side and rear yards have no vegetation height limit, and fences, walls, and retaining walls there can reach eight feet without a permit. Anything taller than eight feet needs approval from the Department of Planning and Economic Development, which must find the taller fence not detrimental to adjacent properties and otherwise compliant with local ordinances before issuing a permit.
Violations & Fines
Fences built over these height limits without the required Planning and Economic Development permit violate § 1278.06 and are subject to Code Enforcement action to bring the property into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my front-yard fence be in Penn Hills?
Can I build a taller privacy fence in my backyard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Penn Hills
How Penn Hills compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Penn Hills to another location·View the Pennsylvania fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Allegheny County handle height limits.