Pennsylvania Act 1917-214 — FIRST CLASS CITIES, REGULATING FENCES

Act text

FIRST CLASS CITIES, REGULATING FENCES
                 Act of Jun. 22, 1917, P.L. 623, No. 214              Cl. 11
                                  AN ACT

     Prohibiting the erection of fences or similar structures above a
        certain height, in suburban and similar districts of cities
        of the first class, except under a permit; declaring certain
        fences a private nuisance, and their erection a misdemeanor;
        and prescribing penalties for violation of the provisions of
        this act.

        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That it shall be unlawful for
     the owner or occupant of any improved premises, in any suburban
     district of a city or borough (whether the premises concerned be
     assessed at rural, suburban, or city rates), to erect any fence,
     or structure resembling a fence, or to re-erect during the
     process of repairing, any fence previously erected, upon any
     part of the front yard, lawn, or space of said premises, or on
     or along the boundary line thereof, of a greater height than
     four feet, if the height in excess of the said four feet is
     unnecessary, or if the same is maliciously erected, elevated,
     and maintained for the purpose of annoying the owner or occupant
     of the adjoining premises. Every such fence or structure, so
     maliciously erected, elevated, and maintained in excess of four
     feet in height, shall be deemed, and is hereby declared to be, a
     private nuisance.
        (1 amended May 26, 1939, P.L.231, No.134)
        Section 2.  Any person or persons erecting and maintaining
     the fence or structure, described in section one hereof as
     unlawful and prohibited, shall be deemed guilty of a
     misdemeanor, and, if convicted thereof, shall be punished by a
     fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred
     dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than
     thirty days or not more than six months, or by both fine and
     imprisonment to said respective amount and extent, at the
     discretion of the trial judge.