Short answer: A garden fence in West Chester, PA should stop three animals: deer, which need height or a tight enclosure; rabbits, which need small mesh at the bottom; and groundhogs, which dig. Welded wire on wood or metal posts handles all three. A small enclosure around the beds is usually easier to approve than fencing the whole yard.
Anyone growing vegetables around West Chester, PA learns quickly who else is eating them. Deer browse from above, rabbits work the edges, and groundhogs tunnel under anything that does not go below grade. A garden fence is a different problem from a property fence: it is smaller, closer to the house, and it has to stop animals rather than block a view. That makes it one of the more satisfying fences to plan, because the results show up in the first harvest.
How tall should a garden fence be?
It depends on the deer pressure and the size of the enclosure. For a vegetable garden in an area with heavy deer traffic, 7 to 8 feet is the reliable range. The WeConservePA handbook recommends deer exclusion fencing 8 to 12 feet high for large areas.
Small enclosures can often get away with less, because deer are reluctant to jump into a tight space where they cannot see a safe landing. A 5- or 6-foot fence around a compact set of raised beds can work in yards with moderate pressure. Our deer fence page covers full-height options and the township height caps that come with them.
What keeps rabbits and groundhogs out?
Small mesh at the bottom and something below grade. Rabbits squeeze through openings wider than about an inch, so the bottom 2 feet of the fence needs tight welded wire or hardware cloth.
Groundhogs dig. Bury the bottom of the mesh several inches, or bend it outward into an L-shaped apron under the soil so a digging animal hits wire. This matters more along the woods and hedgerows where groundhogs live.
Which materials work for a garden fence?
The working part is almost always wire mesh; the frame is where you choose the look.
Welded wire on wood posts
Practical, affordable, easy to extend. Pressure-treated or cedar posts with a top rail. See wire mesh fencing.
Cedar frame with mesh panels
A finished, potager look near the house. Pairs well with an arbor gate. See cedar fencing.
Black metal and mesh
Black posts and black mesh nearly disappear, best for gardens in view of the patio.
Do I need a permit for a garden fence?
In several townships, yes, even for a small one. West Goshen requires a zoning permit for every fence regardless of height. Thornbury and Pocopson require permits for any fence. Westtown only requires one for fences over 40 feet in total length, so a small garden enclosure may fall under that threshold. East Bradford does not require a township permit unless the fence is over 6 feet.
Height is the bigger issue. Most townships cap residential side and rear fences near 6 feet, so an 8-foot deer-proof garden fence may need a permit, a variance or a location outside required setbacks. We check before quoting. See the permit guide and deer fence height guide.
| Pest | What stops it |
|---|---|
| Deer | 7 to 8 ft, or a tight enclosure they will not jump into |
| Rabbits | Mesh openings about 1 inch or smaller in the bottom 2 ft |
| Groundhogs | Buried mesh or an outward L-shaped apron |
| Dogs (yours) | A self-latching gate |
Do backyard chickens need a different fence?
A run for chickens is a related but different build: the concern is predators getting in, including from above. Welded wire with small openings and a covered top serve better than standard garden fencing. Check your township’s rules on keeping poultry before building, since that is a zoning question separate from the fence.
Does a garden fence work on a slope or near a stream?
On a sloped yard, wire mesh follows the grade more easily than panels, but low spots still need the mesh pinned to the ground so rabbits cannot slip under. Gardens near the Brandywine or its tributaries should stay outside stream buffers; East Bradford and Chadds Ford prohibit new construction within 50 feet of the top of the bank.
Where should the garden gate go?
Where the wheelbarrow goes. Make it wide enough for a cart or a garden tractor, put it on the side nearest the hose and compost, and use a latch that closes on its own. A cedar arbor over the gate is a popular finishing touch. See gate installation.
76 FENCE West Chester handles the permit and the PA One Call request. Garden fences are small jobs but still fall under township rules, which change, so confirm with yours; when you hire us, we pull the permit. Reach us at 484-999-0965 a few weeks before planting season.
Walk the fence line with us.
A free on-site estimate in West Chester, PA and the surrounding townships. We check the rules for your street, handle the permit and HOA paperwork, and call PA One Call before we dig.
Sources & references
Codes and ordinances change. This page is general information, not legal advice; confirm requirements with your municipality.