What height of the fence to use from the front of the plot?

When you first plan to build a fence on your property, you wonder how high the fence on the street side should be. This is a very important issue, which is regulated by the provisions of the Polish construction law. The fence should be safe, functional and aesthetic. In our article we will discuss the most important legal aspects and practical tips on the height of frontal fences.

The height of the front fence and the Polish construction law

Detailed guidelines regarding the dimensions of the fence are contained in the Polish Construction Law. According to Art. 29.2 of the Act, each property owner may build a fence up to 220 cm high, without having to apply for a building permit or application. The regulations do not regulate the minimum height of the fence, but in practice it is 120 cm, lower fences function only as a garden decoration. In the act you will not find provisions on the height of the fence from the neighbor's side.

An invaluable source of information on the height of the fence from the side of the road are local legal acts – MPZP, Local Spatial Development Plans. These resolutions may contain precise requirements related to the permissible height of fences, entrance gates and wickets. So before you buy fence materials, carefully verify the provisions of the MPZP to avoid criminal liability and a fine for construction arbitrariness.

What height of the fence from the street?

The construction law is not the only legal act regulating issues related to the height of the fence from the street side. If the entrance to the property is from the side of the internal road, you can put a fence not exceeding 220 cm in height. However, if you want to fence a plot of land from the front, located in the vicinity of municipal or district roads, remember about the provisions of the Act on Public Roads.

A standard fence up to 220 cm cannot be built closer than 6 m in built-up areas and 15 m, outside the built-up area of the municipal road. For county roads, these distances are respectively: 8 m and 20 m. The construction of a fence higher than the permitted 2.2 m or located closer to the road must be consulted each time with the road manager or a representative of the commune or starosty.

The height of the fence of a single-family house – the most commonly used solutions

What is the best fence height for single-family homes? There is no single answer to this question. The fence should co-create a coherent, architectural whole with adjacent fences, it must also be consistent with the assumptions of the MPZP and at the same time perform specific functions: protective, decorative, shielding. In Poland, on private properties, you will most often see fences 150 or 170 cm high.

Owners of single-family houses often reach for ready-made solutions, nets or system panels to be sure that the fence will meet the applicable standards and meet current building regulations. Modern rectangular panels or galvanized nets, sold in rolls, have standard dimensions: 120 cm high or 150 cm. You can also find panel spans 170 cm high and they work especially well on a busy road or a frequently used sidewalk.

Optimal height of the front fence

Remember that the fence should be a coherent, visual whole with the entrance gate and wicket. After all, the front fence is a showcase of the property, so make sure to adjust its height to the parameters of moving elements. When choosing the height of the fence, also take into account other aspects: look at the existing buildings and the height of the fence of your neighbors.

Are you planning to plant ornamental shrubs, flowers or deciduous trees at the entrance to your property? Bet on fences 150 cm high, this is the optimal, standard size of the fence for plots with a garden, requiring good sunlight. You can easily choose mats and protective tapes or artificial hedges, without taking away your plants' life-giving light, necessary for their proper development.

The height of the fence and additional security of the fence

The last, very important issue, related to the height of the fence on private property, is the use of dangerous elements, such as: barbed wire, razor blade or protruding, sharply pointed decorative details. This solution is chosen by the owners of real estate located in a dangerous or secluded area. According to the Polish construction law, accessories of this type can be installed at a height of over 180 cm, so that they do not endanger people or animals near the fence.

All mounting accessories located at a height of more than 180 cm, such as barbed wire booms or decorative profiles with sharp tips, must be directed inwards of the plot. Also pay attention to the fact that along with the fence they should not exceed a height of 220 cm. The construction of a fence with security, higher than the given value, requires obtaining the appropriate permission of the starost or administrator from the municipality.