Fence Regulations in Southampton, NY (2026)
5 verified fence regulations for Southampton, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
In the Town of Southampton outside the villages, Town Code § 330-109A caps residential fences and walls at four feet in a required front yard and six feet in a required side or rear yard, with six feet the absolute ceiling anywhere in a residence district; nonresidential lots may reach 10 feet in a rear yard within 10 feet of the lot line.
Southampton NY Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSouthampton Town Code § 330-109
§ 330-109. Fences, walls, accessory driveway structures, and clotheslines. A. In residence districts. ... (1) No fence or wall in a required front yard shall have a height greater than four feet. (2) No fence or wall in a required rear or side yard shall have a height greater than six feet. (3) In no case shall any fence or wall have a height greater than six feet. ... ... B. In nonresidence di...
Fence Permit Requirements
In the Town of Southampton outside the villages, Town Code § 330-109A(4) exempts any fence or wall four feet or less, built of standard materials, from building permit requirements, while electrical fences need a permit from the Building Inspector under § 330-109D(2) even when the Planning Board has already authorized them.
Southampton NY Fence Permit Requirements
Light RestrictionsSouthampton Town Code § 330-109
§ 330-109. Fences, walls, accessory driveway structures, and clotheslines. A. In residence districts. ... (4) Any fence or wall having a height of four feet or less shall be exempt from building permit requirements, provided that it shall be constructed of standard materials used for such purposes. ... ... D. Electrical fences. The use of any fence which delivers an electric shock, charge or cu...
Neighbor Fence Rules
In the Town of Southampton outside the villages, Town Code § 330-109A(5) requires every fence to be built with its finished side facing the adjoining neighboring property, so the smooth or decorative face looks out at the neighbor's yard rather than the exposed posts and rails.
Southampton NY Fence Finished-Side Rule
Light RestrictionsSouthampton Town Code § 330-109
§ 330-109. Fences, walls, accessory driveway structures, and clotheslines. A. In residence districts. ... (5) All fences to be erected will have a finished side of the fence facing toward adjoining neighboring property(ies).
Retaining Walls
In the Town of Southampton outside the villages, Town Code § 330-109F bars any fence or wall on a berm but lets the Planning Board approve a retaining wall on a berm's sides if it promotes aesthetics and stays no taller than the berm's own grade. Berm heights are capped at four to ten feet under § 330-111, and berms over four feet need a building permit under § 330-112.
Southampton Retaining Walls on Berms Need Approval
Significant RestrictionsSouthampton Town Code §§ 330-109F, 330-111, 330-112
F. No fence or wall shall be constructed on a berm. However, a retaining wall may be placed on the sides of a berm where the Planning Board finds said retaining wall will promote aesthetic considerations and the height of the same does not exceed the grade of the berm. ... ... § 330-111. Berm height. ... A. In all residence districts, no berm shall have a height greater than four feet in a fron...
Material Restrictions
In the Town of Southampton outside the villages, Town Code § 287-10 forbids any barbed-wire fence along a public highway property line, and § 330-109D strictly prohibits electric fences in every zoning district unless the Planning Board grants written authorization. Livestock owners are excused from that approval, but every authorized electric fence still needs a Building Inspector permit and posted shock warnings.
Southampton Bans Barbed Wire, Electric Fences
Significant RestrictionsSouthampton Town Code §§ 287-10, 330-109D
§ 287-10. Barbed-wire fencing prohibited. Barbed-wire fencing along the property line of any public highway shall be prohibited. ... D. Electrical fences. The use of any fence which delivers an electric shock, charge or current to any animal or human being when contact is made shall be strictly prohibited in all zones, unless authorized by the Planning Board. ... No electrical fence shall place...
Looking for Suffolk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Southampton city rules.
Fence Regulations in Suffolk County →