Short answer: 76 FENCE West Chester installs, replaces and repairs fences throughout West Chester, PA, including the borough, its historic district and the blocks around the university, and in the surrounding Chester County townships such as West Goshen, East Goshen, Westtown, East and West Bradford, Thornbury, Birmingham and Pocopson. Each municipality writes its own fence rules, so we start with your address.
A West Chester, PA mailing address does not tell you which fence ordinance applies to your yard. The same ZIP code can cover the borough and parts of several townships, and the rules change at the municipal line: one township wants a permit for every fence, another only for fences taller than six feet, and a third cares mostly about which side of the boards faces your neighbor. Pick your town below for the details that apply to you.
- Every fence needs a permit: West Goshen and Thornbury; the borough runs fences through zoning review.
- Permit only above a threshold: East Bradford (over 6 ft) and Westtown (over 40 ft long in setbacks, plus pool fences).
- Front yards: Usually 4 ft or lower and open in style.
- Who files: When you hire us, our team pulls the permit and calls PA One Call.
In the borough
West Chester townships
- West GoshenPermit for every fence
- East GoshenHOAs & 55+ communities
- Westtown40-ft permit trigger
- East BradfordBrandywine frontage
- West BradfordMarshallton & pasture
- Thornbury6-inch line offset
- BirminghamBattlefield township
- PocopsonHorse & creek country
- Chadds FordBrandywine River towns
- WillistownConservation land
How do you find out which township your property is in?
Look at your property tax bill or the county’s parcel record rather than your mailing address. The municipality named there is the one that issues your fence permit.
This matters most near the borough line, where a house with a West Chester street address may sit in West Goshen, East Bradford or Westtown. If you are not sure, tell us the address when you call or text 484-999-0965 and we will confirm the municipality before the walkthrough.
How do the areas around West Chester differ for fencing?
Roughly, the West Chester area falls into four kinds of ground, and each one tends to call for a different kind of fence.
The borough grid
Twins and rowhouses on narrow lots with alleys behind them, plus the historic district and student-rental blocks. Think privacy fences with alley gates, period-appropriate front fences, and durable rental fencing. See West Chester Borough and the historic district.
The township ring
West Goshen, East Goshen and Westtown wrap around the borough with post-war neighborhoods, newer HOA communities and office parks. Front-yard height limits and open-style rules come up on almost every job here.
Brandywine and battlefield country
East Bradford, West Bradford, Thornbury, Birmingham, Pocopson and Chadds Ford: larger lots, creek frontage, stone farmhouses, horses and deer. Split rail, board fence and tall garden fencing do much of the work.
Chester Valley and the north
Exton, Uwchlan, Downingtown, Chester Springs and Phoenixville, where limestone ground, townhome communities and HOA approval letters shape the job.
Which towns require a permit for every fence?
West Goshen and Thornbury require a permit for any fence, and the borough runs every fence through a zoning review. Other townships only step in above a certain height or length.
| Municipality | When a permit or review is needed | One rule worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| West Chester Borough | Zoning review for fences ($50 on the borough fee schedule) | No fence may block the clear sight triangle at an intersection (§ 112-805) |
| West Goshen | Zoning permit for every fence, any height | Front-yard fences 4 ft max and at least half open |
| East Goshen | Permit application with a site plan | Smoother side faces the neighbor or street |
| Westtown | Fences over 40 ft long in setback areas, and any pool enclosure | Front setback fences must be open, 5 ft max |
| East Bradford | Only fences taller than 6 ft | Fences may sit directly on the property line |
| Thornbury | Every fence, wall or screen | At least 6 inches off the line unless your neighbor agrees in writing |
The full comparison, with sources, is in our West Chester fence permit guide. Front-yard limits are covered separately in front-yard fence rules.
How should you choose a fence for your part of town?
Start with what the ordinance allows where the fence will stand, then match the material to the lot and the house.
- Front yards in most townships here need a short, open fence, so picket or aluminum is the usual answer.
- Side and rear yards commonly allow 6 ft, which covers most privacy and dog fences.
- Several townships write “good side out” into code; see which side faces the neighbor.
- Creek frontage, conservation easements and HOA covenants can override what the zoning code alone would allow.
Whatever town you are in, our team prepares and files the paperwork through our fence permit service.
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.
Rules change, so confirm with your township or borough. When you hire us, we pull the permit.
Sources & references
- West Goshen Township Ordinance 12-2024 (fences)
- Westtown Township § 170-1505 Fences and walls
- East Bradford Township: Fences
- Thornbury Township Chapter 76, Fences
- West Chester Borough Fee Schedule
Codes and ordinances change. This page is general information, not legal advice; confirm requirements with your municipality.