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Fence Regulations in New Rochelle, NY (2026)

4 verified fence regulations for New Rochelle, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Height Limits

New Rochelle caps fences and walls at four feet in a required front yard and six feet in a side or rear yard. Extra rules tighten that further along a residence district's side lot line and loosen it for fences between residential and nonresidential zones or around tennis courts.

New Rochelle Fence Height Rules

Some Restrictions

City of New Rochelle Code § 331-16, A, B, J

Fences and walls, not exceeding four feet in height, are permitted within required front yards and not exceeding six feet in height are permitted in side or rear yards, except that: A. In a residence district, the height of any fence or wall shall not exceed four feet in height along the side lot line from the front property line up to the building line. B. Any fence or wall separating a reside...

Fence Permit Requirements

New Rochelle lets homeowners put up a fence up to six feet tall without a building permit, as long as it is accessory to a dwelling, follows the Zoning Ordinance, does not block a required exit and is not part of an outdoor swimming pool enclosure. Taller fences, commercial fences and pool-enclosure fences fall back under the Section 111-8 permit requirement.

New Rochelle Fence Permit Exemption

Some Restrictions

New Rochelle Code § 111-9B

Fences. The erection of a fence not exceeding six feet in height shall be permitted without a building permit where such fence is accessory to a dwelling, complies with the applicable provisions of the Code of the City of New Rochelle and the Zoning Ordinance, does not obstruct egress and is not required in conjunction with the enclosure of an outdoor swimming pool.

Retaining Walls

New Rochelle requires anyone who raises or lowers the grade at a property line to build a retaining wall on their own land and at their own expense under City Code § 111-24. The wall must be built high enough to hold back the adjoining earth, properly coped, and topped with a guardrail or fence at least three feet tall. The Bureau of Buildings enforces the rule as part of Chapter 111.

New Rochelle Retaining Wall Requirements

Some Restrictions

New Rochelle City Code § 111-24

When a person proposes to change the existing grade at a property line, the person causing such change to be made shall erect, when necessary, a retaining wall at his own expense and on his own land. Such wall shall be built to a height sufficient to retain the adjoining earth, shall be properly coped and shall be provided with a guardrail or fence not less than three feet in height.

Material Restrictions

New Rochelle bans electrically charged fences, barbed wire and any other sharp-material fencing in every residentially zoned district. The same ban reaches into nonresidential districts wherever the barbed wire would be visible from the street or from a nearby residential zone.

New Rochelle Barbed Wire Fence Ban

Heavy Restrictions

City of New Rochelle Code § 331-16H

H. Electrically charged fences, barbed-wire fences and other fences constructed of sharp materials are not permitted in any residentially zoned district and in any district, other than residential, where installation of the barbed wire would be visible from the street or from any residential zone.

Looking for Westchester County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement New Rochelle city rules.

Fence Regulations in Westchester County