Short answer: Yes, West Goshen Township in West Chester, PA requires a zoning permit for every fence, regardless of height, and a building permit as well for fences 8 ft or taller. Front-yard fences are capped at 4 ft and must be at least as open as they are solid; side and rear fences on homes can reach 6 ft. 76 FENCE West Chester files the permit for you.
West Goshen wraps around the north and east sides of the borough of West Chester, PA, and for years homeowners there could put up a short fence without asking anyone. That changed when the township began requiring permits for fences under Ordinance 6-2022, later amended by Ordinance 12-2024. If you last fenced a yard here a few years ago, the process is not the one you remember.
- Permit: Zoning permit for all fences regardless of height; building permit too at 8 ft or taller.
- Front yard: 4 ft maximum, with at least a one-to-one ratio of open to structural area.
- Side and rear: 6 ft on residential properties, 10 ft on non-residential; solid fences allowed.
- Through lots: Up to 6 ft and solid along the rear of the house, never in the right-of-way.
- Also: No fence may block a clear sight triangle, cross an easement, or impede the natural flow of water.
Do you need a permit for a fence in West Goshen?
Yes, for every fence. The township’s fence regulations state that all fences, regardless of height, require a zoning permit.
That includes a 3-ft picket along the front walk, a dog run behind the garage and a replacement of an old fence in the same spot. The permit is mostly about location: the township wants to see where the fence will run relative to the street, the right-of-way, easements and the house. We prepare a site plan from the walkthrough measurements, attach product details, and submit it. Our permit service explains what we file in each municipality.
How tall can a fence be in each part of a West Goshen yard?
It depends on the zone of the lot. The front yard runs from the street line back to the building setback; everything behind that line is side or rear yard.
| Where the fence stands | Maximum height | Solid allowed? |
|---|---|---|
| Front yard, standard lot | 4 ft | No; at least 1:1 open to structural |
| Front yard of a through lot, behind the house | 6 ft | Yes |
| Side and rear yard, residential | 6 ft | Yes |
| Side and rear yard, non-residential | 10 ft | Yes |
| Any fence 8 ft or taller | Building permit required in addition | – |
What “one-to-one open” looks like
A front-yard fence in West Goshen has to be at least as much air as structure. A standard picket with gaps as wide as the pickets meets that; so does most aluminum, and split rail easily. A solid board fence or a shadowbox does not. On the ranchers and split-levels common in the township’s older neighborhoods, a 4-ft aluminum or picket fence defines the front yard without hiding the house. See front-yard fences and picket fences.
What is a through lot, and why does it matter?
A through lot has a street on both the front and the back. West Goshen treats both sides as front yards, but it lets you build a solid fence up to 6 ft along the rear of the house, as long as it stays out of the right-of-way.
Homes that back onto a collector road are the usual case. Without that exception, the back yard could only have a 4-ft open fence. We locate the right-of-way line from your deed plot or survey before setting the first post, because a fence built in the right-of-way can be ordered removed. If you are unsure where your line is, read do you need a survey before a fence.
What else can stop a fence permit in West Goshen?
Three things come up most: sight triangles at corners and driveways, easements, and drainage. Each is in the township’s rules.
- Corners and driveways. No fence may block the required sight distance or clear sight triangle.
- Easements. Fences cannot cross easements, which often run along rear or side lot lines for sewer, storm or utility lines.
- Water. A fence must not impede the natural flow of water. On a yard with a swale, we leave a gap at grade or adjust the run.
What about businesses along Route 100 and Route 202?
Non-residential properties in West Goshen can build side and rear fences up to 10 ft, which covers most security fencing at office and light-industrial sites. Anything 8 ft or taller also needs a building permit.
Black vinyl-coated chain link and ornamental steel are the usual choices around the township’s corporate parks. Our commercial fencing page covers security fences, gates and enclosures.
Next door, East Goshen uses a similar 4-ft open front-yard rule but adds a “good side out” requirement, and the borough runs fences through a $50 zoning review. The West Chester fence permit guide lines them all up.
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 West Goshen Township before you build. When you hire us, we pull the permit.
Sources & references
Codes and ordinances change. This page is general information, not legal advice; confirm requirements with your municipality.