Community Development Township of Upper St. Clair

Guidelines For Building a Fence

The types, positioning and height of fences permitted in the Township vary depending on the kind of fence, its placement on the property and the layout of the lot.

Typically fences can be up to 4 feet high in a front yard and 6 feet high in a rear or side yard. However, if you have a corner lot, or a double frontage lot, what you think of as your back yard may well be a "front yard." Please check with the Community Development Department. A copy of the survey of your property will be needed in order to make a proper determination of height and location and to obtain the permit.

A building permit is required for construction of a fence. A copy of the property survey (plot plan) showing the location of the proposed fence must be submitted along with the permit application. If the fence is a privacy fence, enclose a sketch of a section of the fence complete with dimensions. In addition make sure that homeowners' association or private covenants do not prohibit your fence. There is an application fee based on the minimum value of the construction.

A handout is available at the Community Development Department or online for either the Definition and Illustration of a Privacy Fence or Definition and Illustration of Buildable Area.

The application for a fence permit (PDF) is also available online along with Guidelines (and Illustrations) for Building a Fence (PDF)

Typical fences permitted in front yards are split rail, wrought iron or equally spaced picket, not to exceed a height of 4 feet to the top of the posts. Pickets shall be no more than 6 inches wide and no more than one supporting rail, in addition to the bottom rail, is permitted for each 18 inches in height. No strictly functional fences, such as chain link, are permitted in a front yard. Some properties are subject to private covenants that restrict fence types or disallow fences altogether. The Township does not participate in or enforce such restrictions, but you should check to see if any apply to your property.

The unfinished side (with posts and stringers) of a fence must face toward the structure or area that it is intended to enclose or screen.

No fences, except invisible fences, are permitted in the street right-of-way, which in most cases is thirteen (13) feet back from the rear edge of the curb.

Fences in the side and rear yards are limited to 6 feet in height. With the exception of privacy fences, all fences are permitted up to the property line.

There are additional requirements for pool enclosures.

Privacy Fences

Privacy fences are not permitted in the required front or side yards as per illustration. They are, however, permitted in the buildable area of the lot, in the required rear yard and along the rear lot line, but they must not encroach into the required side yard. The height limit is 6 feet. The online illustration depicts the difference between a privacy fence and a non-privacy fence. Commercial lattice type fences are considered privacy fences.

Invisible Fences

Invisible fences are permitted in the Township's right-of-way upon issuance of a Street Opening Permit and execution of an Indemnification Agreement relieving the Township of any responsibility for damage.

If the invisible fence will be located within the street right-of-way, which is typically the first 13 feet back from the edge of the curb on Township owned streets, then a Street Opening Permit and an Indemnification Agreement are required. No permit is required if located anywhere else on the lot.

Download the Street Opening Permit Application (PDF) from this site.

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