Haverford, PA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Haverford Township Code § 182-727(C)(1) is the retaining wall rule. Retaining walls can be located within a required front yard, provided they do not exceed 30 inches in height and provided the wall is constructed of masonry, stone or cement. Other walls are treated differently: unless the chapter provides for them elsewhere, walls other than a retaining wall less than 30 inches in height are prohibited within a front yard, and § 182-727(B) makes any fence, wall or retaining wall in the front yard unlawful unless the chapter provides for it.

Behind the building line the picture changes. Section 182-727(C)(1) lets fences, walls and retaining walls be erected in the area immediately to the rear of the building line, and the six-foot ceiling in § 182-727(C)(2) expressly excludes a retaining wall, along with a wall that is part of an approved building. The section prints no separate height ceiling for a retaining wall outside the front yard, so the Zoning Officer's review of the permit application is where its size gets tested.

Height is measured differently for walls than for fences. Wall height is measured vertically between the top of the wall and the lower of the finished ground level on either side of the wall, which means the exposed face on the low side controls.

A permit is required. Section 182-727(A) covers retaining walls by name: the application goes on the Township form with a diagram of the area, the Zoning Officer must approve the work, a permit must issue and the required fees must be paid before construction. The Zoning Officer can also require a survey by a licensed professional land surveyor. A retaining wall cannot extend into the street right-of-way nor split any division or boundary lines, and the Zoning Officer shall not permit one that is a fire hazard or a hazard to street traffic or pedestrians. The section does not call for engineered drawings.