Short answer
In New Hanover Township, a corner fence has to stay out of the clear-sight triangle: 25 ft from the intersection along each street line, or 50 ft if either road is a collector or arterial (Zoning §27-1912). Inside it, nothing can stand between 2 ft and 7 ft above curb level. Elsewhere, front-yard fences top out at 4 ft and other yards at 6 ft, and no fence may sit in the ultimate right-of-way.
What the sight triangle is
Picture the corner of your lot where the two street lines meet. Measure 25 ft back from that point along one street line and 25 ft along the other, then connect the two points. The triangle that makes is the clear-sight area. Inside it, §27-1912 bars anything between a plane 2 ft above curb level and one 7 ft above it. In practice that rules out a fence of any useful height inside the triangle, along with hedges and shrubs that grow into that band.
| Where the corner is | Triangle legs | Clear band |
|---|---|---|
| Two local streets | 25 ft along each street line | 2 ft to 7 ft above curb level |
| Either street is a collector or arterial | 50 ft along each street line | 2 ft to 7 ft above curb level |
| A driveway or private accessway meets a public street | 10 ft triangles | Obstructions limited to 2 ft |
New Hanover Zoning §27-1912. Whether a road is a collector or arterial is set by the township; we confirm it for your corner.
New Hanover's main highways are PA 73 and PA 663. If your corner lot touches one of those, or another road the township classifies as a collector or arterial, assume the 50 ft triangle until the Zoning Officer says otherwise. A 50 ft triangle takes a big bite out of a typical subdivision corner lot.
The ultimate right-of-way usually matters more than the curb
§27-1909 keeps fences, hedges and walls out of any ultimate right-of-way, which is the width the township plans the road to have, not the pavement there today. §27-1918 sets ultimate right-of-way widths from 52 ft for local roads to 80 to 120 ft for arterials. On a local road with a 52 ft right-of-way centered on the road, the line sits about 26 ft from the centerline. On older rural roads, where the pavement may be narrower than the planned width, that line can sit well into what looks like your lawn. Your deed plan or subdivision plan shows where it is.
Heights on the rest of a New Hanover lot
- Required front yard: fences, hedges and walls up to 4 ft above natural grade.
- Any other required yard: up to 6 ft above natural grade.
- Anywhere: nothing over 6 ft, except retaining walls and building walls (§27-1911).
- The limits apply to hedges as well as fences, which surprises people planting arborvitae along a corner.
Heights are measured from natural grade, so as we read it, building up a berm and putting a 6 ft fence on top of it doesn't get you around the limit.
Laying out a corner-lot fence, step by step
- Find the ultimate right-of-way lines on your plan. The fence stays behind them.
- Ask the township whether either street is a collector or arterial, which sets a 25 ft or 50 ft triangle.
- Mark the triangle on the ground with stakes and string before choosing a fence line.
- Bring the fence in at 4 ft along the front yard and step up to 6 ft only where the front yard ends.
- Check where your driveway meets the street for the 10 ft driveway triangles.
Permits in New Hanover
The zoning code requires a zoning permit before any structure is erected, altered or removed (§27-2503), and a permit application includes a scale site plan (1 in = 20 ft or larger, on a 24 by 36 in sheet) showing structures against property and street lines (§27-2504). The township's FAQ has said fences need a permit, that replacing boards without new posts is exempt, and that pool fences also need a building permit, but we couldn't reload that page in October 2026 to recheck it. We confirm each of those with the township for your job.
New Hanover grew 48% between 2000 and 2010 and had 12,973 residents in 2020, so a lot of its corner lots are in newer developments with recorded plans. We pull that plan, stake the triangle, and show you the fence line on the ground before anything is ordered.
Common questions
Can I put a 3 ft picket fence inside the sight triangle?
Nothing can stand between 2 ft and 7 ft above curb level inside the triangle, and a 3 ft fence reaches into that band. Keep fences under 2 ft there or stop them at the triangle's edge.
Does the sight triangle apply to my hedge?
Yes. The rule covers any obstruction, and §27-1909 applies the height limits to hedges as well as fences and walls.
Do I need a permit to replace fence boards in New Hanover?
The township FAQ has said board-only replacement without new posts is exempt. We couldn't recheck it in October 2026, so confirm with the township first.