Anyone know about fencing rules in Smithtown?

I want to fence in our property. We're on a corner lot, and I'm primarily interested in fencing the side facing the road. I'm wondering what the restrictions are...

how far of a set back off the road is required?
do we need a permit?
how high can the fence be?

TIA!
(I'm going to try to call the town tomorrow but I always seem to think about it when they're closed)

Re: Anyone know about fencing rules in Smithtown?

This is from their website (I've looked it up before )


Q: Is a building permit required for a fence?
A: A permit is required for any fence over 4 feet in height


Q: Where may I put a fence on my property?
A: A fence not exceeding four feet in height above existing natural or approved grade may be erected on any portion of a lot except on a corner lot, which shall observe corner clearance. Fences from 4 - 6 feet in height shall not be located within the required front yard. Corner lots shall not have fences encroaching into minimum required front yards on either street.

HTH!

Message edited 7/5/2009 8:29:57 PM.

Re: Anyone know about fencing rules in Smithtown?

Thank Li! I was just on their site to find out what the corner clearance and minimum frontage requirements are but I didn't have any luck.

4 feet is high enough, so its good to know I don't need a permit.

Re: Anyone know about fencing rules in Smithtown?

I just went through this in spring. If it's 4 feet, you don't have much to worry about except the corner clearance and the variance.

If you go to their site, get the town code, and search it for all instances of "fence", you will find a section with a drawing about the corner clearance. I honestly don't remember if it applies to 4 foot fences and under.

Basically the corner clearance says:

Go to the middle of the intersection of your two streets. Measure from the middle of the intersection down the middle of one road to 75 feet. Mark that as point A.

Then go back to the middle of the intersection and measure 75 feet down the other road. Mark that point as B.

When you connect the middle of the intersection to A and B, you make a triangle. The fence (again, not sure if it's 4 foot + or not) cannot be within that triangle.

I'm told (by the town) that the variance is 10 feet. Even though my neighbor and fence guy told me it was 8, we did 10 anyway to avoid any issues.

You don't need permits for 4 foot fences.

I always think it's better to get your answers from the town because ultimately they're the ones you have to answer to if there's a problem. But I'm pretty sure you'll be fine.

Message edited 7/6/2009 7:41:33 AM.

Re: Anyone know about fencing rules in Smithtown?

thank you! 8-10 feet is much better than I anticipated. I was afraid it would be 20!

Re: Anyone know about fencing rules in Smithtown?

I know this is a very old post, but I am in a similar situation. Interested in buying a house but the slope of the backyard is driving me crazy. There is a pool in the back so from the street you can easily see inside the backyard which is why they have an extra privacy fence which is annoying. They currently only have a 3' fence there right now. So from what im getting is the town of smithtown would now let me put up a 5' fence? *The pics from google map are old ones*

Re: Anyone know about fencing rules in Smithtown?

Hmm I guess the images wouldn’t post.