The finished side of the fence faces your neighbor. That’s the rule most people mean when they talk about fence etiquette — and in some Chester County townships, it’s not just a rule of thumb, it’s written into the zoning code.
At J&A Fence in Avondale, PA, this is one of the most common questions we hear on estimates across Chester County and northern Delaware. Below is the short answer, what your local township actually says, and — if you don’t love the idea of giving the pretty side away — the fence styles that solve the problem entirely.
The Short Answer: The Finished Side Faces Your Neighbor
The finished side of the fence — the smooth face, without visible posts and rails — points outward toward the neighboring property. The unfinished side, where the 2×4 rails and 4×4 posts are visible, faces into your own yard.
This is the traditional answer to which way does a fence face, and it holds up for two reasons. First, it’s what most people expect — refusing to follow it is what starts feuds. Second, in a growing number of local codes, it’s now the law.
So who gets the good side of the fence? Your neighbor does. You get the structural side. And in most cases, you’re paying for the whole thing.
What Chester County Townships Actually Say About Fence Orientation
This is where most fence blogs stop and tell you to “contact your township.” We’ll actually name the code.
Kennett Township is explicit about it. Kennett Township Zoning Code §240-2018(D) states that fences “shall be installed so that any visible structural elements face to the interior of the lot, installing such.” In plain English: posts and rails face your yard, smooth side faces the neighbor.
Avondale Borough is quieter on the topic but stricter on other dimensions. The borough’s zoning ordinance sets residential fence heights at 4 feet in the front yard and 6 feet in side and rear yards, with a required 18-inch setback from the front lot line and 3 inches from side and rear lot lines (or on the lot line itself if you file a certified survey with your permit). Avondale doesn’t specifically mandate orientation — but if your fence violates height or setback rules, it doesn’t matter which way it faces.
HOAs almost always add their own layer. Kennett Township requires an HOA approval letter to accompany any fence permit application if the property is in an HOA. Many Chester County HOAs are stricter than the township code on orientation, materials, and style — even when the code itself is silent.
If you’re in Landenberg, Toughkenamon, or one of the newer developments off Route 41, check both. The township covers the legal minimum. The HOA covers everything else.
Why Does the Good Side Face Out?
Three practical reasons the convention exists — and why breaking it is a bad idea.
Code and HOA fines. If your township (like Kennett) or your HOA requires the finished side to face out, installing it backward can trigger a violation letter and, in stubborn cases, a forced reinstall. That’s real money for a mistake that costs nothing to avoid.
Security. The unfinished side has horizontal rails running across it. Those rails are essentially a ladder. Facing them into your own yard means someone climbing over from the street has nothing to grab. Facing them out is doing your intruder a favor.
Curb appeal and resale. Real estate agents will tell you the same thing: a fence with the ugly side facing the street knocks money off the sale price. Your fence is part of the neighborhood streetscape whether you like it or not — and the appraiser is looking at it.
Good Neighbor Fence Styles That Look Great on Both Sides
If the whole “who gets the good side” question rubs you the wrong way, the honest answer is: pick a good neighbor fence style. These are fences that look the same from both sides, so nobody loses.
Shadowbox fence. Alternating boards on opposite sides of a center rail. From either yard, it looks finished. You still get privacy — the boards overlap when viewed straight-on — but there’s a small gap when viewed at an angle, which also lets air through. It’s one of the most requested styles we install.
Board on board fence. Overlapping vertical boards on both sides of the frame. Full privacy, symmetric appearance, and it hides the rails entirely. More material than a standard privacy fence, so it costs a bit more, but you never have the “which side faces where” argument. We build both shadowbox and board-on-board in Western red cedar as shadowbox and board-on-board wood fences.
Vinyl privacy. Solid vinyl panels are naturally symmetric — same look inside and out, no bad side. We install Country Estate vinyl privacy, made in the USA by the oldest vinyl fence manufacturer in the country. Low maintenance, no re-staining, and neighbor-proof by design.
Aluminum ornamental. Different privacy category — this one doesn’t block sightlines — but it looks identical from both sides, and it’s the right choice for pool enclosures, decorative front-yard fencing, and homes where a solid fence would feel like a wall. Country Estate aluminum is built in the USA.
You can walk through all four styles in person at our Gap Newport Pike showroom in Avondale — the only fence store in southern Chester County. For a full style breakdown, see our wood fence style guide.
Before You Install: Property Lines, Neighbors, and Permits
Three things every Chester County homeowner should do before the crew shows up.
Know exactly where the property line is.Which side of fence is mine usually depends on where the line actually runs — not where you think it runs. Kennett Township allows fences directly on the property line but discourages it for maintenance and landscaping reasons; putting the fence a few inches inside your own line saves you from ever having to step onto your neighbor’s yard to repair or stain it. If there’s any doubt, get a survey. Property line fence rules get complicated fast when the line is contested.
Talk to your neighbor first. Not because you have to — because it saves a lot of grief. Show them the plan, show them which side they’ll be looking at, and confirm they have no boundary concerns. Ten minutes at the property line before the estimate can prevent a year of tension after the install.
Call 811 before you dig. Pennsylvania law requires you to call PA One Call at least three business days before any digging or excavation, including fence posts. We handle the 811 call on every project we install.
For everything else — permits, HOA approval, township-specific requirements — see our Chester County fence permit guide and questions to ask before hiring a fence company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which side of the fence is mine?
If you paid for the fence and it’s on your property, the whole fence is yours. The convention is that the finished side faces your neighbor and the unfinished side faces you — but ownership doesn’t split down the middle. Whoever installed it owns and maintains it.
Do I legally have to put the good side toward my neighbor?
In some townships, yes. Kennett Township Zoning Code §240-2018(D) requires that visible structural elements face the interior of the lot installing the fence. Avondale Borough doesn’t mandate orientation specifically. Check your township and your HOA before you install.
What is a good neighbor fence?
A good neighbor fence is any fence style that looks the same from both sides. Shadowbox, board-on-board, vinyl privacy panels, and aluminum ornamental all qualify. Neither neighbor gets stuck with the “ugly” side.
Can I put the fence directly on the property line?
In Kennett Township, yes — but the township discourages it for maintenance and landscaping reasons. Setting the fence a few inches inside your own line means you can stain, repair, or replace it without stepping onto the neighbor’s property. Avondale Borough allows placement on the side lot line if you file a certified survey from a Registered Land Surveyor with your permit application.
Build Fence With Confidence
Every J&A install starts with an on-site estimate — Joe or a crew lead walks your property, confirms lines and setbacks, and flags anything the township or HOA will care about before you commit. We’re family-owned, based in Avondale, and voted Best of Chester County for fencing by Daily Local News readers every year from 2021 through 2025.
Call 484-368-2206 or get a free on-site estimate.
