Which Side of a Fence Should Face Your Neighbor?

Pennsylvania has no statewide law on which side of a fence faces the neighbor. The rule, where one exists, comes from your municipality. The City of Pittsburgh zoning code allows fences in residential districts "provided that the finished side faces adjacent property" (Section 912.02), and Hempfield Township's zoning ordinance says a fence finished on only one side must be built so the finished side "faces outward away from the lot" (Section 87-17C).

North Huntingdon Township, also in Westmoreland County, gives the opposite answer. Its Building Inspections and Permits FAQ states that "decorative fencing can face either side; property owner's preference." Two townships in the same county, two different rules, which is why the good neighbor fence question has to be answered at the township office and not from a general guide. This post covers what the finished side is, what local codes say, and how to pick a style that makes the question disappear.

What Is the Finished Side of a Fence?

The finished side of a fence is the face that shows the pickets or panels, with the rails and posts hidden behind them. On a standard wood privacy fence the difference is obvious. One side is a smooth wall of boards. The other side shows the horizontal rails and the posts they attach to.

People also call this the "good side," the "pretty side," or the "face side." Codes tend to use "finished side." They all mean the same thing.

Not every fence has a back. Chain link looks the same from either direction. Many vinyl and ornamental aluminum panels are also built to look alike on both faces, and Hempfield's ordinance recognizes this by allowing fences "finished on both sides in the same manner" as an alternative to facing one finished side out.

What Do Local Codes Say About a Good Neighbor Fence?

A good neighbor fence is any fence built so the people next door get a finished face. Whether that is required depends on where you live. Here is what three local codes say:

• City of Pittsburgh: Section 912.02 of the zoning code permits fences, walls and retaining walls in residential districts on the condition that the finished side faces adjacent property. In nonresidential districts, Section 912.03 extends that to adjacent property and public rights-of-way.

• Hempfield Township: Section 87-17C(2) requires that a fence or wall finished on one side only be erected with the finished side facing outward, away from the lot where it stands.

• North Huntingdon Township: the township FAQ leaves it to the owner. Decorative fencing can face either side.

Other municipalities fall somewhere on that range, and some zoning ordinances do not address it at all. Before you order materials, call your zoning office and ask one direct question: does the ordinance say which side of the fence has to face out? If you are already asking about permits, our guide to whether you need a permit to install a fence in Pennsylvania lists the other questions worth asking on the same call.

Can Your HOA Decide Which Side Faces Out?

Yes. A homeowners association can set rules that are stricter than the township's, and fence orientation is a common one. If your deed is subject to recorded covenants, the association's design guidelines may require the finished side to face the street and neighboring lots even where the township is silent.

Read the covenants and get written approval before installation. A fence that passes township review can still violate HOA rules. We covered how that works in can your HOA restrict what fence you install in PA.

Why Face the Finished Side Out Even When No Rule Requires It?

Most homeowners face the finished side toward the neighbor and the street, even in townships like North Huntingdon where the choice is theirs. There are practical reasons for that.

The street view of your property is the finished face. Anyone driving past sees clean boards and not framing.

It also keeps the peace. A neighbor who looks at rails and posts every day did not choose that fence and did not pay for it. Giving them the finished face costs you nothing extra in materials.

The third reason is resale. A buyer walking the yard will notice which way the fence faces.

The trade-off is that you see the rail side from your own patio. If that bothers you, the answer is a style with two finished faces, covered below.

What If the Fence Sits on the Property Line?

Where the fence stands affects how you maintain the side that faces away from you. North Huntingdon's 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." Hempfield's ordinance permits fences along side and rear lot lines with no setback.

A fence set right on the line means you step onto the neighbor's yard to stain, repair or trim along the outward face. A fence set a little inside the line lets you reach both sides from your own ground. Either way, know exactly where the line is before the first post goes in. Our post on planning around property lines before a fence install explains how to confirm it.

Which Fence Styles Look Finished on Both Sides?

If you would rather not choose a side at all, pick a style that has no back.

• Shadowbox: boards alternate on both sides of the rails, so each neighbor sees the same pattern. See how a shadowbox fence works.

• Vinyl privacy panels: many panel systems slot into routed posts and present the same face in both directions. Ask to see the back of the panel before you buy.

• Ornamental aluminum: pickets pass through the rails, so the fence reads the same from the yard and the street.

• Chain link: identical on both sides by design.

These styles satisfy a finished-side ordinance from either direction, and they settle the question with the neighbor before it comes up. You can compare panel options on our vinyl fences and aluminum fences pages.

FAQ

Is there a Pennsylvania law about which side of the fence faces the neighbor?

No state law sets it. Municipal zoning ordinances and HOA covenants do, and they vary from one township to the next.

What does "good neighbor fence" mean?

It describes a fence built so the neighbor sees a finished face. Some people use the term for any fence with the finished side out, and others use it for styles such as shadowbox that look the same on both sides.

Does the finished side have to face the street?

In some places, yes. Pittsburgh's code requires the finished side to face adjacent property in residential districts and adds public rights-of-way in nonresidential districts. Hempfield Township requires the finished side to face outward from the lot, which includes the street side. Check your own ordinance.

My neighbor built a fence with the rails facing my yard. What can I do?

Start by finding out whether your municipality has a finished-side rule. If it does, the zoning or code enforcement office handles complaints. If it does not, the neighbor is generally free to face the fence either way on their own property, and a conversation is the practical next step.

Can I put the rails on the outside for security?

Rails on the outside give someone a ladder into your yard, which is one more reason the finished face usually goes out. Where an ordinance requires the finished side out, you do not have the option anyway.

Who decides which side faces out when neighbors split the cost?

The two of you do, in writing, before the work starts. A style with two finished faces avoids the argument.

Fence Installation in Westmoreland County and Greater Pittsburgh

Just Fences is a locally owned fence company in Harrison City, established in 2007. The company installs vinyl, aluminum, wood, chain link and custom fences for homes and businesses, offers free quotes, and backs its installations with a 2-year workmanship warranty. If you are not sure which way your fence has to face, bring the question to your consultation along with your township's name.

Visit Just Fences or call (724) 392-4416 today. Contact us for more information.