Short answer
In Colebrookdale Township, a fence must sit at least 2 ft from every lot line unless the neighboring owner signs a statement that they don't object to it on the line. A residential front-yard fence must be open-style, at least 1:1 open, and 4 ft or lower; other yards allow 6.5 ft (Joint Zoning Ordinance §403). A zoning permit is required, with applications handled by LTL Consultants.
The setback that only Colebrookdale has
Boyertown, Colebrookdale and Pike share one zoning ordinance, but §403 carves out a rule for Colebrookdale alone. Here a fence has to be set back at least 2 ft from any lot line. The way around it is a written, signed statement from the primary owner of record of the abutting lot saying they don't oppose a fence on the line. That waiver also covers a later replacement fence, so you don't need to go back to the neighbor each time.
Two feet is a real strip of yard on a smaller village lot. If you want the fence on the line, ask the neighbor early, get the statement signed, and include it with the permit application. If you can't, we lay the fence out 2 ft in and you keep access to mow and maintain the outside.
Colebrookdale fence rules
| Rule | What the code says |
|---|---|
| Setback | 2 ft from any lot line, unless the abutting owner signs a no-objection statement (Colebrookdale only) |
| Front yard (residential) | Open style, 1:1 open to structure, 4 ft max; the Zoning Officer may approve taller to contain animals or address a hazard |
| Behind the front yard | 6.5 ft; tennis-court fencing up to 10 ft |
| Corner lots | Both street sides treated as front yards; behind the rear of the house, 6.5 ft is allowed along one street |
| Intersections | Keep 2.5 ft to 10 ft above ground clear in the sight triangle (§803.C) |
| Floodplain | A separate Colebrookdale floodplain section (§510) regulates fences in flood-prone areas |
| Pools | UCC pool-fence rules; no pool in the minimum front yard |
| Prohibited | Barbed wire around homes in residential districts; electric fence except low-intensity fence for farm animals |
| Permit | Yes, Building and Zoning Permit Application |
Source: Boyertown-Colebrookdale-Pike Joint Zoning Ordinance §403, §510 and §803, read October 2026 through ecode360 code-search excerpts.
Fences in the floodplain
Colebrookdale drains to Manatawny Creek and to tributaries of Perkiomen Creek, and the joint ordinance gives the township its own floodplain district (§510) with a provision written specifically about fences. We could only read the start of that clause, which concerns fence design, so we don't know its full terms. If any part of your lot is mapped as floodplain, we get the township's reading of §510 before designing that section.
Farms, animals and the front yard
The front-yard rule has an escape valve that matters on the township's larger properties: the Zoning Officer may approve a taller front fence where it's needed to contain animals or deal with a specific hazard. Electric fence is allowed only to contain farm animals, and only at low intensity. Barbed wire can't be part of a fence around a home in a residential district. For pasture and paddock options, see our livestock fencing guide.
Which addresses are in Colebrookdale
The township wraps around Boyertown on three sides, covers about 8.5 square miles and had 5,127 residents in 2020. Its villages include New Berlinville, Gablesville and Englesville, which crosses into Montgomery County. Many homes have Boyertown 19512 addresses, and the township is also a primary municipality in the Bally, Barto and Bechtelsville ZIPs. The Bahr Mill Complex and the 1861 Nicholas Johnson Mill are on the National Register. See our Boyertown and Bally, Barto and Bechtelsville pages.
Permit
Download the Building and Zoning Permit Application from the township's Permits and Forms page. The county directory lists LTL Consultants (Paul E. Labe III, 610-987-9290) as zoning and code enforcement officer; the township office is 610-369-1362. Include the neighbor's signed statement if you're building on the line.
What we couldn't confirm
- The zoning permit fee (the 2026 fee schedule PDF wouldn't open).
- The full text of the §510 floodplain fence rule.
- Any rule on which side of the fence faces out.
Read from the joint zoning ordinance in October 2026. Ordinances are amended from time to time, so we confirm Colebrookdale's current rules with the township's zoning officer before each job.
Common questions
Can I build my fence right on the property line in Colebrookdale?
Only if the owner of the neighboring lot signs a written statement that they don't oppose it. Otherwise the fence must be at least 2 ft from the line.
Does the 2 ft setback apply in Boyertown borough or Pike?
No. §403 applies it within Colebrookdale Township only. The borough and Pike have only the ordinance's recommended 1 ft setback.