Franklin Township, PA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Franklin Township separates retaining walls from ordinary fences in § 22-725 of the Subdivision and Land Development ordinance, added by Ordinance 2011-11 in 2011. Subsection 2 allows a retaining wall in a required front yard only up to a maximum height 'as approved by the Township Engineer,' provided two criteria are met. First, any retaining wall placed in the required front yard is limited to a maximum of four feet, or increments of four feet where the site needs a taller retained grade, effectively stepping a tall slope into stages rather than a single tall wall.

Second, the wall must be positioned so it does not obstruct clear sight for drivers and must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any right-of-way. Reading Subsection 1 alongside Subsection 2 shows the Township treats retaining walls as a distinct structure from fences and freestanding walls, since the 48-inch/six-foot fence rule in Subsection 1 expressly excludes retaining walls, letting the four-foot increment standard and Engineer sign-off govern grade-retention structures instead. Because the Township Engineer reviews and approves the specific height and design, a homeowner planning a front-yard retaining wall taller than four feet in a single run should expect to submit plans for that approval rather than assume a blanket limit applies.