Do I Need a Survey Before Putting Up a Fence in PA?
Do I need a Land Survey In Order To Build a Fence in Pennsylvania?
Short answer: Most likely, yes. Pennsylvania doesn’t have a state law that requires a survey before you install a fence*, but most municipalities need to know your exact property line before they’ll approve a permit. And the only way to get that line exactly right is a professional survey.
What Pennsylvania State Law Actually Says About Getting a Survey For Your Fence Project
There’s no statewide rule that says “get a survey before building a fence.” Fence height, placement, and setback rules are set by each municipality’s own zoning code, not the state. That means the real answer to “do I need a survey” comes down to your township, not Harrisburg.*
How Local Ordinances Can Affect Your Fence Project
Every township writes its own version of these rules, and that patchwork stretches well beyond Montgomery County into Bucks, Berks, and Lehigh Counties too. The details change from one municipality to the next, so it’s worth confirming your specific setback and permit requirements before you buy materials.
Horizon Engineering Associates has direct experience with most municipalities in the surrounding counties. Our experience combined with our knowledge allows us to navigate these confusing rules and regulations to help you get your project done without extra paperwork or stress.
The Hidden Costs of Skipping a Survey
The biggest reason to get a boundary survey is to avoid expensive property disputes. If your fence accidentally ends up on your neighbor’s land, they can sue you. Now you’re paying for a lawyer, tearing the fence down, and building it again. It can bite you later too, even if nobody complains right away. Try to sell your house down the road with a fence that violates your municipality’s setback rules, and you’ll likely have to fix it before closing. Build six inches from the line when your township
What About Just Using My Deed or the Tax Map Instead o Getting a Survey?
A lot of people assume they can skip the survey and go by their deed or the county tax map instead. That’s a mistake. Deeds often describe property lines using old, informal reference points, a tree, a fence post, a boulder, that may not even exist anymore. Tax maps aren’t much better. They’re usually built from old deeds or aerial photos, and surveying is a precision job. “Close enough” isn’t a legal description, and it definitely isn’t something a court will accept if a property dispute ever ends up in front of a judge.
What You Actually Get With a Boundary Survey
Updated monuments.
Surveyors set physical markers, sometimes temporary stakes, sometimes permanent metal markers, at precise points along your property line. These monuments make future surveys faster and cheaper, since the next surveyor isn’t starting from scratch. Old monuments get buried or destroyed over the years, which is part of why an updated survey matters even on a property that’s been surveyed before.
A precise legal description.
When your contractor has a signed and sealed survey in hand, they can build with confidence instead of guessing. That means less time spent double-checking paperwork and more time actually building your fence.
An updated plat.
A plat shows your property in relation to everything around it including lot lines, dimensions, easements, and streets as it exists today, not as it existed when the last survey was done decades ago.
Why Work With a Local Surveyor Like Horizon Engineering
It’s almost always worth hiring a local company for this kind of work. When you search for a “surveyor near me,” you’re not just supporting a local business, you’re getting a crew that already knows the area, has already surveyed nearby lots, and can move faster because of it.
Horizon Engineering Associates has been surveying properties for more than 25 years, and our database of past surveys throughout the region often lets us save clients both time and money on the job. If a fence installer tells you they’ll handle the survey themselves, keep in mind that usually means they keep the data, not you. Get your own survey done, and you can reuse it for a future pool, addition, or any other project on the same property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pennsylvania law require a survey before installing a fence?
Not at the state level, no.* Fence rules in Pennsylvania are set by each municipality, so check with your local zoning office. Requirements can look very different from one town to the next.
Does Pennsburg, PA require a survey for a fence permit?
The zoning permit application asks for a plot plan showing the fence’s material, height, and placement, but Pennsburg Borough doesn’t perform surveys itself. In fact, the Borough directs residents to hire their own local surveyor to confirm the property line before building. *
How close to the property line can I build a fence in Pennsylvania?
It depends on your municipality. In Pennsburg, for example, fences can generally sit right on the property line and run up to 6 feet tall, dropping to 2.5 feet within a street or driveway sight triangle. Neighboring townships across Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, and Lehigh Counties set their own setback rules, so always confirm locally. *
What happens if I accidentally build a fence on my neighbor's property?
Best case, you tear it down and rebuild it in the right spot. Worst case, your neighbor sues, and now you’re paying for an attorney on top of tearing it down and rebuilding it.
Can I use my deed or a public tax map to find my property line for a fence?
You can, but it’s a risky shortcut. Deeds often rely on informal or outdated measurements, and tax maps are frequently generated from aerial photos rather than precise field measurements. Using either one to place a fence can open you up to a costly dispute. A licensed survey is the safer route.
Who does boundary surveys for fence permits near Pennsburg, PA?
Horizon Engineering Associates, based right in Pennsburg, has handled boundary surveys for fences, pools, and additions throughout the Upper Perkiomen Valley and greater Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, and Lehigh Counties for more than 25 years.
Ready to Get Your Property Lines Confirmed Before You Build Planning a New Fence?
Call Horizon Engineering Associates before you start. A boundary survey doesn’t just get your fence permit approved. It’s a document you keep and can reuse for your next pool, addition, or property project.
*The information in this article is current at the time of publishing, but things may have changed. You should always consult an engineer to confirm the applicable rules and regulations.
Sources Borough of Pennsburg, PA — Chapter 110, Zoning, Article III: General Regulations (ecode360.com/26945667) Borough of Pennsburg, PA — Building & Zoning Permit Application (pennsburg.us) Borough of Pennsburg, PA — Code Enforcement page (pennsburg.us/code-enforcement)
