Fence Installation Cost in Lebanon County, PA: Wood, Cedar, Vinyl and Chain Link Per Foot (2026)

A new fence in Lebanon or Lancaster County typically costs $18 to $75 per linear foot installed, depending on the material and the height. For a typical back yard of about 150 feet with one gate, that works out to roughly $3,000 to $5,500 for chain link, $4,500 to $8,000 for pressure-treated wood, and $6,500 to $11,500 for a cedar or vinyl privacy fence. Gates, removing an old fence, rocky ground and slopes add to it.

Prices below are typical ranges for our area, not a quote. A fence is priced after we walk the line, because the ground decides a lot of it.

Fence cost per linear foot

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What moves the price

Length and corners. The price per foot drops on long straight runs and rises on short fences with many corners and ends, because each end and corner post is set deeper and braced.

The ground. Much of the Lebanon Valley sits on limestone, and rock close to the surface is common. When the auger hits rock, posts take longer and sometimes need a rock bit or core drill. Slopes add cost too: on a hill, panels are either stepped or racked to follow the grade, and both take more cutting.

Post depth. Posts go roughly a third of their length into the ground and below the frost line, which in our area means about 30 to 36 inches. Shallow posts heave in a freeze-thaw winter, and that is where most failed fences in Pennsylvania start.

Height. Six feet is the standard privacy height and the most a residential fence can be in Pennsylvania without a building permit. Taller fences need engineering and a permit, and most townships do not allow them on a residential lot.

Gates. A gate is the most-used and most-broken part of any fence. A wide drive gate needs heavier posts and often a wheel or a center drop rod. Gate posts should be set in concrete even where line posts are set in gravel.

Wood, cedar or vinyl?

Pressure-treated pine is the budget privacy fence. It is strong, but it moves as it dries, so boards twist and gaps open the first year. It needs stain or sealer within a few months of install and every two to three years after.

Cedar is what we built in a South Philadelphia back yard in 2025: a privacy fence built on site with a matching cedar planter box, both stained red-brown. Cedar stays straighter than pine, resists rot naturally and looks finished. Left unstained it turns silver-grey in a year or two; stained, it needs a fresh coat every three to five years.

Vinyl costs about the same as cedar up front and never needs stain. It does not rot and washes clean with a hose. The trade-offs: it can crack from a hard hit in deep cold, and a damaged panel has to match the original color, so buy a couple of spare boards when you install.

Chain link and aluminum are the right answer when you need a barrier but not privacy, for a dog, a pool or a front yard.

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Permits, zoning and calling 811

Building permit. Under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, a residential fence 6 feet high or lower does not need a building permit (34 Pa. Code § 403.62).

Zoning permit. That exemption does not cover zoning. Many townships and boroughs in Lebanon and Lancaster County still require a zoning permit for a fence and set their own rules: lower limits in front yards (often 3 to 4 feet), setbacks from the property line or sidewalk, clear sight lines at driveways and corners, and sometimes which side of the fence faces the neighbor. One call to your municipal office before you order materials avoids moving a fence later.

Pool fences. A fence around a pool is a pool barrier with its own rules: at least 4 feet high, self-closing and self-latching gates, and no footholds on the outside. Those are inspected.

HOAs. In newer developments around Palmyra, Hershey and Lititz, the homeowners' association often has rules on material, color and height that are stricter than the township's. Get approval in writing first.

Call 811 before any digging. Pennsylvania law requires notice to PA One Call at least three and no more than ten business days before excavation, and fence posts count. It is free. Utility companies mark their lines; private lines, like a cable to a shed or a gas line to a grill, are not marked and need care.

Know your property line. The township will not tell you where it is. If the old fence or a neighbor's memory is the only evidence, a survey costs a few hundred dollars and is cheaper than a dispute. Setting the fence a few inches inside the line is the safe habit.

How long a fence lasts

Posts usually fail before boards. A fence with sound posts can often be re-boarded for much less than a new one.

Timeline

A typical back-yard fence takes one to three days on site, depending on length and how much rock we hit. Posts set in concrete need a day before panels go on. Materials for vinyl and aluminum are usually ordered and take one to three weeks to arrive; wood is often in stock locally.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 6 foot privacy fence cost in Lebanon County? About $28 to $48 per foot in pressure-treated wood, and $40 to $70 in cedar or vinyl, installed. For 150 feet with a gate, roughly $4,500 to $11,500 depending on material.

Is vinyl or wood cheaper over 20 years? Close to even. Wood is cheaper to install but needs stain every few years; vinyl costs more up front and almost nothing after. If you would rather never stain, vinyl wins.

Can a fence go in during winter? Yes, as long as the ground is not frozen hard. Winter is often easier to schedule.

Do you build fences on a slope? Yes. We step the panels or rack them to follow the grade, whichever looks better on your yard.

Do you also stain fences? Yes, new and old. Staining is part of our painting work.

Get a fence price

We build cedar and vinyl fences, gates and privacy screens as part of our siding, fences and exterior work in Lebanon County, Lancaster County and Hershey. Send the rough length, the height you want and a photo of the yard, and we will come walk the line.

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