Allentown prohibits fences and walls made from scrap sheet metal or similar 'junk' anywhere, and bars barbed wire or electrically charged fences in neighborhood (residential) zones unless the Zoning Officer finds barbed wire necessary to protect against an unusual hazard. Walls must be brick or masonry with a finished appearance.
Section 660-45.A(3) of the City of Allentown Zoning Ordinance (eff. Jan. 1, 2026) provides that no fence or wall may be constructed from scrap sheet metal or similar 'junk,' and no fence in a neighborhood zone may be constructed out of barbed wire or be electrically charged unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the zoning officer that barbed wire is necessary to protect persons from an unusual hazard, such as electric transformers. Section 660-45.B(3) requires walls in neighborhood zones to be constructed of brick or other masonry with a finished appearance. All fences and walls must be durably constructed and comply with applicable provisions of the building code (Sec. 660-45.A(2)). The materially identical 2015 provision appears at Section 1311.07.C and 1311.07.G.
A prohibited-material fence is a zoning violation. Under Section 1305.09.B the City may bring a civil enforcement proceeding seeking a judgment of up to $500.00 per day plus court costs and attorney fees, and the Zoning Officer may order removal of non-conforming material such as barbed wire or scrap-metal fencing.
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