Short answer
Only with landscaping. Douglass Township (Berks County) permits chain link, which its code calls a cyclone fence, solely together with a landscaped screen, so the fence itself isn't visible from any adjacent property or street (Zoning §27-715.1E). Every fence is capped at 6 ft and nothing may sit in the street right-of-way. Barbed wire is allowed only for agriculture.
What the Douglass (Berks) code says
Section 27-715.1 of the township zoning ordinance covers fences, walls and hedges. Subsection E reads: "Cyclone fences are permitted solely in conjunction with a landscaped screen," and the standard is that the fence itself can't be seen from any adjacent property or street. That's stricter than a rule asking for "some" planting: the screen has to do the hiding, on every side a neighbor or a road can see.
The code doesn't list approved plant species or spacing in the part we read. How dense the screen has to be, and how soon after the fence goes in it has to work, are questions for the Zoning Officer.
Which Douglass Township?
There are two, side by side in two counties. Douglass Township in Berks County lies around the Boyertown and Douglassville areas. Douglass Township in Montgomery County is next door and takes in much of Gilbertsville. They have separate zoning codes. This page covers the Berks one. If your mailing address says Boyertown or Douglassville, check the municipality on your tax bill before relying on these rules (Gilbertsville addresses are in the Montgomery County township and its neighbors, not this one); our address guide explains the overlap.
The rest of the fence rules in Douglass (Berks)
| Rule | Douglass Township (Berks) |
|---|---|
| Height, any yard | 6 ft maximum; security fences and decorative retaining walls exempt |
| Security fences over 6 ft | Nonresidential uses only |
| Walls over 4 ft | Must be designed by a registered engineer |
| Placement | Allowed within and along the edge of any required yard; never in the street right-of-way |
| Corner lots | Clear sight triangle of 75 ft (150 ft at collector and arterial streets), open between 2.5 ft and 10 ft |
| Barbed wire | Agricultural purposes only |
| Chain link | Only with a landscaped screen hiding it from adjacent properties and streets |
Zoning §27-715.1 and §27-716. We found no separate front-yard height limit in §27-715.
Pool fences are the exception people ask about
Chain link is popular for pool barriers because it's affordable. In Douglass (Berks), the pool section adds its own rules: the pool must be completely enclosed by a fence or wall at least 4 ft high, gaps between vertical and horizontal members can be no more than 2 in, and gates need locks (§27-720). In-ground pools 18 in deep or more need a permanent 4 ft fence (§27-702.2A). Standard residential chain link mesh is wider than 2 in, so a chain link pool barrier here would need a smaller mesh, and it still falls under the screening rule. Most owners pick aluminum or vinyl for the pool instead.
Your options if you wanted chain link
- Chain link plus a planted screen. Black vinyl-coated chain link disappears into evergreens better than galvanized. Plan the planting with the fence, and budget for both. Our 4 ft chain link runs about $30 to $45 per foot installed, before planting.
- Aluminum. An open picket fence that isn't chain link, so the screening rule doesn't apply. Roughly $50 to $85 per foot for 4 to 5 ft.
- Split rail with wire backing. A common way to keep dogs in on bigger lots. Ask the Zoning Officer whether the wire backing would be treated as chain link; we didn't find the code addressing it.
- Wood or vinyl privacy. Up to 6 ft, no planting rule.
Permits in Douglass (Berks)
The township code says no structure may be erected without a zoning permit from the Zoning Officer, except normal maintenance and repairs, and defines a structure broadly. We didn't find text naming fences directly, or a fee. We treat a new fence as needing a zoning permit and confirm with the township office for each job.
If you're set on chain link, tell us at the estimate. We'll lay out the fence and mark where the screen has to go so you can review the planting plan with the township before anything is built.
Common questions
Does the screening rule apply to a dog run in the back yard?
The code applies to cyclone fences generally and asks that the fence not be visible from any adjacent property or street. A back-yard run that neighbors can see would need screening as we read it. Confirm with the Zoning Officer.
Is the rule the same in Amity Township?
Similar, not identical. Amity asks for a high-intensity buffer planting screening chain link from adjacent properties. See our Amity page.