Fence contractor for Mercer County, Pennsylvania

The short version for a Mercer County fence project

A fence in Mercer County is governed first by the municipality where the property sits, not by the county. The county seat is the borough of Mercer, and the largest places are Hermitage, Sharon, Grove City and Greenville. The county borders Trumbull and Mahoning counties in Ohio, which is why a project near the state line can be quoted from our base in Bristolville, Ohio.

We build farm, horse, wire, wood and chain link fence and gates in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Whether we reach a particular Mercer County property is something the FREE estimate call confirms, so ask before you assume either way. This page explains the local rules and habits that matter before anyone sets a post.

Zoning in Mercer County is municipal, and most municipalities have it

Thirty of the 48 municipalities in Mercer County have zoning, according to the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission. That means a fence in roughly two out of three places is subject to a local ordinance, and in the rest there may be no zoning rule to read at all. The commission links the ordinances on its website, which saves a trip to each office.

Pennsylvania lets municipalities regulate structures through the Municipalities Planning Code, and the code defines a structure broadly enough that a fence can fall under it. Because zoning is municipal, one township may allow a fence right up to the road and the next may demand a setback and a permit. Rules vary by township and municipality, so check with the local office before you commit to a layout. This is general information, not legal advice.

Two layers of permit

The state Uniform Construction Code exempts residential fences no more than 6 feet high from a building permit, which means a taller one needs a permit. That exemption only holds if the work does not violate a law or ordinance, and a municipality may still ask for its own zoning permit on any fence. Treat the two as separate questions and ask both.

The Pennsylvania Fence Law and farm land

Pennsylvania has an old Fence Law that applies to improved and occupied farm and ranch land. Under it, neighbors who both use a boundary fence generally share the cost equally unless they have agreed otherwise. A Pennsylvania Farm Bureau summary also says no one can be required to build or repair a line fence from December through March. That summary is a secondary source, so verify the current statute or ask an attorney before you rely on any detail.

The law is not meant for a typical suburban lot. The Farm Bureau summary points to a court decision, Fogle v. Malvern Courts, for the idea that the Fence Law is a farm and ranch rule. If your Mercer County property is a residential lot in Hermitage or Sharon, the rules that matter most are the local zoning ordinance and any agreement you make with the neighbor.

• On a farm line, talk to the neighbor before the fence goes up and write down who builds which section.
• If you share the cost, agree on the fence type first, because a woven wire line and a four-board horse fence do not cost the same.
• Remember the December through March rule when you plan a repair, since a neighbor cannot be forced to act then.
• For a real dispute, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law is the place Penn State sends fence questions.

New Wilmington and the farms around it

Mercer County is part of the New Wilmington Amish settlement, which spans Mercer and Lawrence counties. The directory site Amish America lists the settlement at 2,465 people for 2026. That figure comes from a directory, so treat it as an approximation, not a census.

What that means for fencing is practical. Where farms are worked, the fence people ask about is often horse, cattle or sheep fence, with a gate wherever animals or equipment need to move. Our owner was raised Amish and our work is built on Amish craftsmanship, so a farm fence with deep, well-set posts and gates that swing true is the kind of work we aim for. Read more about who we are and about Amish-built fence work.

Choosing the fence for a Mercer County property

The right fence follows the animal or the purpose, not the catalog. Match the job to the type and the budget conversation gets simpler.

From first call to finished fence

1. Call or request a FREE estimateTell us the address, the fence type and what the fence needs to hold or keep out. We confirm whether the property is within our reach.
2. Walk the lineWe look at the ground, the gates, the corners and the existing fence, if any. A tape and a conversation settle most questions.
3. Check local rulesYou or we contact the municipal office about permits, setbacks and height. Rules vary by township and municipality.
4. Call 811Pennsylvania requires three business days notice to PA One Call before digging. The hired contractor makes that call, and you can ask for the serial number.
5. BuildPosts first, then rails or wire, then gates. Corners and gate posts get the most attention because they carry the load.
6. Walk it togetherWe check gates swing and latch and the line runs where it should. Warranty terms are written into the estimate.

Who to call in Mercer County

These offices are real and linked from our sources. They can tell you what applies to your parcel, which we cannot do from a distance.

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the county sets the rules. In Mercer County it is the municipality, and 30 of the 48 have zoning.
• Building a farm line fence without telling the neighbor. Written agreements prevent most arguments.
• Skipping the 811 call. Pennsylvania requires at least 3 business days before excavation, and the call costs homeowners nothing.
• Using the Fence Law on a small residential lot where it likely does not apply.
• Choosing a fence height before reading the local limit, then cutting boards after the fact.
• Putting off a repair until winter, then discovering a neighbor cannot be forced to share it between December and March.

Questions we hear