What Are the Fence Rules in North Huntingdon Township, PA?
The fence rules in North Huntingdon Township limit fences to four feet in the front yard and six feet, six inches in the side and rear yards. Those numbers come from Section 405.4 of the township's Zoning Ordinance 765 and are repeated in the township's Building Inspections and Permits FAQ.
That extra six inches is unusual. Nearby Hempfield and Penn townships both stop at six feet. North Huntingdon also treats a corner lot as having two front yards, so the four-foot limit runs along both streets, and it bans electric and barbed wire fences in residential areas. This post covers heights, corner lots, property lines, pools, and what to confirm with the township before you build.
How Tall Can a Fence Be in North Huntingdon Township?
The zoning ordinance lists fences among the permitted obstructions in required yards and sets two heights:
Front yard: fences and walls not exceeding four feet in height above grade.
Side and rear yard: fences and walls not exceeding six feet, six inches in height above grade.
The township FAQ says the same thing in plainer words: fencing cannot exceed 4 feet in height in the front yard and 6 feet 6 inches in the side and rear yard.
The extra six inches gives you room to work with. A standard six-foot privacy panel can be raised a few inches off the ground for drainage and still come in under the limit. A decorative cap or lattice topper on a six-foot fence can fit as well, as long as the total stays at or below six feet, six inches above grade.
One caution on height. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code exempts fences that are no more than six feet high from its permit requirement, provided the work does not violate another law or ordinance. A fence built to the full six feet, six inches allowed by zoning is above that state threshold, so ask the building inspector whether a building permit applies before you go over six feet. For the statewide rules, see what fence height is allowed in PA.
What Are the Rules for Corner Lots in North Huntingdon?
Corner lots get the front yard limit twice. The township FAQ states that corner lots are considered to have two front yards.
The zoning ordinance spells out the result: on a corner lot, the fence height for front yards shall not be greater than 48 inches above grade, and the fence height of a side yard shall not exceed six feet, six inches. It adds that the height of a fence in a front yard is determined so that a full view of oncoming traffic is not blocked.
The FAQ puts the traffic rule simply. Fencing cannot obstruct any vehicular vision.
If your house sits on a corner, plan for a four-foot fence along both street sides and save the taller sections for the yard that faces your neighbors. An open style such as picket or ornamental aluminum keeps sight lines clear. Our post on what ornamental fencing is and where it is used covers the options.
Can You Build on the Property Line in North Huntingdon?
Yes, with a recommendation attached. The township FAQ says fencing can be located directly on the property line, but "the Township strongly recommends the fence be placed inside the property line to allow enough room for maintenance."
That advice is practical. A fence on the line can only be stained, repaired or trimmed around from the neighbor's side on one face. Setting it inside the line lets you reach both faces from your own yard.
The FAQ also warns that "any fence installed within the right-of-way or over an easement is at your own risk." If the township or a utility needs to get into that strip, the fence is in the way and you carry the consequences. Check your survey or recorded plan for easements and for the road right-of-way before you fix the layout.
Confirm the boundary with a survey before the posts go in. Our guide to planning around property lines before a fence install explains how.
Which Side of the Fence Faces Out, and What Materials Are Banned?
North Huntingdon leaves the orientation to you. The FAQ says "decorative fencing can face either side; property owner's preference." That differs from Hempfield Township and the City of Pittsburgh, where the finished side has to face out.
Most owners still face the finished side toward the neighbors and the street, because it looks better from the road and avoids hard feelings next door. A style that looks the same from both sides, such as shadowbox, takes the decision off the table.
On materials, the zoning ordinance is short and clear: "No electric or barbed wire fence shall be permitted in Residential areas."
The ordinance defines a fence as a fabricated barrier used to enclose an area of land. Wood, vinyl, aluminum and chain link all fit.
Do You Need a Permit for a Fence in North Huntingdon Township?
Confirm it with the Community Development Department before you order materials. The township's published FAQ on when a permit is required names pools, sheds, decks, garages, additions, signs and retaining walls above four feet. The zoning ordinance separately requires a permit before the erection of any building or structure in a residential district.
The practical step is one phone call or email. Give the staff the height, the material and where the fence will sit on the lot, and ask what approval applies. Have these ready:
Your address and a copy of your property survey
A sketch showing the fence line and its distance from each property line and the road
The height in each yard, especially if you plan to use the full six feet, six inches
Whether the lot is a corner lot
The township's zoning application carries a $50 fee and states that it will not be accepted without a survey, so a current survey is worth having, whatever the answer is. Our guide to whether you need a permit to install a fence in Pennsylvania covers how local permits and the state code interact.
What Are the Pool Fence Rules in North Huntingdon Township?
Pools do need a permit, and the barrier is part of it. Section 826.2 of the zoning ordinance requires fencing not less than four feet in height above the underlying ground level, with a self-closing, self-latching gate, installed so as to completely enclose a private pool area.
The township's swimming pool permit form adds several points:
Outdoor pools and spas must be enclosed by an approved permanent barrier before the pool or spa is used or occupied.
Pedestrian gates must open outward away from the pool or spa and must be self-closing and self-latching.
Temporary construction fencing or barrier protection is required around excavations.
The pool form also requires a survey showing the distance from the side and rear property lines. Pool barriers fall under the state building code as well, so the inspector will check the fence against those requirements. See pool fence installation requirements in PA for the usual details.
Who Do You Call About a Fence in North Huntingdon?
The Community Development Department handles planning, zoning and building inspections.
Address: 11279 Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA 15642
Phone: (724) 863-3806, extension 220
Email: permits@nhtpa.us
The township's zoning ordinance was enacted in 1991 and has been amended many times since. The copy posted on the township website is labeled as including amendments through August 2016, so ask whether anything newer affects fences.
FAQ
What is the maximum fence height in North Huntingdon Township?
Four feet in the front yard and six feet, six inches in the side and rear yards.
Can I build a fence on the property line in North Huntingdon?
Yes. The township allows it but strongly recommends placing the fence inside the line to leave room for maintenance.
Does the good side of the fence have to face my neighbor in North Huntingdon?
No. The township FAQ says decorative fencing can face either side at the property owner's preference.
How are corner lots treated?
As having two front yards. The four-foot limit applies along both streets, and the fence cannot block the view of oncoming traffic.
Is barbed wire or electric fencing allowed?
Not in residential areas. The zoning ordinance prohibits both there.
Does a pool fence have different rules?
Yes. A private pool must be completely enclosed by fencing at least four feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate, and a pool permit is required.
Fence Installation Near North Huntingdon
Just Fences is a locally owned fence company in Harrison City that has served Westmoreland County and Greater Pittsburgh since 2007. The company installs vinyl, aluminum, wood, chain link and custom fences, offers free quotes, and backs its installations with a 2-year workmanship warranty. The steps from consultation to final quality check are on the fence installation page.
Visit Just Fences or call (724) 392-4416 today. Contact us for more information.
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