What's Required in Philadelphia
- No permit for non-masonry fences up to 6 ft in side or rear yards, or up to 4 ft and no more than 50% opaque between the street and the house (L&I fence table)
- Zoning permit ($50 plus $25 filing for 1-2 family lots) for front-yard fences 4 to 6 ft or more than 50% opaque; no surcharge on zoning approvals
- Building permit ($69 flat for 1-2 family, plus $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges) for any fence over 6 ft and for masonry or concrete walls over 2 ft
- A building permit is always required on Philadelphia Historic Registry properties (Historical Commission approval first) and in the 100-year floodplain
- Fences within 30 ft of an intersection or 12 ft of a shared driveway or alley at least 12 ft wide are limited to 4 ft and 50% opacity
- Fences above the zoning height limit receive a refusal from L&I that must be appealed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment
- Permit applications require plans meeting L&I's plan requirements; fences encroaching on the right-of-way need Department of Streets review
- Work under a permit at an existing 1-2 family home may be done by an owner-occupant, a registered PA HIC with a Commercial Activity License, or a licensed Philadelphia contractor
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Fence in Philadelphia?
Usually not. L&I's fence permit page carries a plain table: a wood, metal or vinyl fence up to 6 feet in a side or rear yard needs no permit at all. The front yard is stricter because the Zoning Code (Section 14-706, summarized in L&I's residential fence FAQ) limits any fence between the street and the building to 4 feet and no more than 50% opaque. A front fence up to 4 feet and mostly open needs nothing; between 4 and 6 feet it needs a zoning permit only; over 6 feet anywhere on the lot it needs both a zoning permit and a building permit. Masonry is its own column: poured concrete or stone walls need a building permit once they pass 2 feet, and a front-yard masonry wall needs a zoning permit at any height. Two overrides sit on top of the table: a building permit is always required if the property is on the Philadelphia Historic Registry or in the 100-year floodplain, and a fence within 30 feet of an intersection or 12 feet of a shared driveway is held to the 4-foot, 50%-open rule wherever it sits.
Philadelphia Fence Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Wood, vinyl or chain-link fence up to 6 ft in the side or rear yard | None | L&I fence table, non-masonry |
| Front-yard fence up to 4 ft and no more than 50% opaque | None | L&I fence table; Zoning 14-706 via fence FAQ |
| Front-yard fence up to 4 ft but more than 50% solid, or 4 to 6 ft | Zoning permit ($50 plus $25 filing) | Fence table footnote; fence page fees |
| Any non-masonry fence over 6 ft | Zoning permit plus building permit ($50 + $69 + $7.50) | Fence table; zoning refusal and ZBA appeal likely |
| Masonry or concrete wall 2 to 6 ft in a side or rear yard | Building permit ($69 + $7.50) | L&I fence table, masonry |
| Any fence on a Historic Registry or 100-year floodplain property | Building permit, Historical Commission approval first | Fence page overview and pre-approvals |
| Fence at a 3-unit or commercial property | $100 filing, $139 building, $253 or $632 zoning | Fence page fees, all other sites |
How Much Does a Fence Permit Cost in Philadelphia?
The fence page publishes every number. For a lot with a one- or two-family dwelling the filing fee is $25, the zoning permit is $50, and the building permit is a $69 flat fee. Building permits carry the $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges; zoning approvals of fencing do not. So a 5-foot front fence costs $50 in zoning fees, and a 7-foot privacy fence that needs both permits costs $50 + $69 + $7.50 = $126.50. Fence permits at any other site cost more: $100 filing, $139 building, and $253 or $632 zoning depending on lot size. An accelerated 5-day review of a fence building permit is available for $2,000, which no homeowner should need. One caveat on the tallest scenario: because the Zoning Code caps fences at 6 feet, a taller fence is above the allowable limit, and the fence FAQ says L&I issues a refusal that you then appeal to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Budget the permit fees, but expect the hearing.
Who Can Build the Fence and What to Submit
When a permit is required, L&I lets three kinds of people do the work on an existing one- or two-family home: a licensed Philadelphia contractor, a registered PA Home Improvement Contractor who holds a Commercial Activity License, or an owner who lives in the building. The application needs the complete scope of work, current owner information and plans that meet L&I's plan requirements; a fence that encroaches on the right-of-way also needs Department of Streets review. Applications for one- or two-family uses are reviewed within 15 business days, plus one business day of pre-processing for eCLIPSE filings. Fence posts and gate posts that serve as architectural features may rise 6 inches above the allowable height, and a fence that meets the zoning limits needs no zoning permit, even on the front line.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Philadelphia
Measure height and location
Up to 6 ft in the side or rear yard, or 4 ft and half open in front, needs no permit. Check the 30 ft intersection and 12 ft driveway sight rules on corner lots.
Check Atlas for historic and floodplain status
Either one forces a building permit regardless of height, and a historic listing needs Historical Commission approval before L&I will accept the application.
File in eCLIPSE with plans
Submit the zoning application, the building application or both, with a scaled plan showing the fence line and heights, and pay the $25 filing fee.
Wait for review and pay the balance
One- or two-family applications are reviewed within 15 business days. On approval pay the $50 zoning fee and, if applicable, the $69 building fee plus $7.50 in surcharges.
Name the contractor and call for inspection
A building permit issues only after the contractor or owner-occupant is confirmed. Request the inspection through eCLIPSE or (215) 255-4040 when the fence is up.