6 rules for unincorporated Orange County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
Most Orange County NY towns limit front-yard fences to 4 ft and rear/side yards to 6 ft. Corner lots must maintain visibility triangles. City of Newburgh §300-25 and Town of Wallkill Ch. 150 follow this standard. Agricultural fences up to 8 ft are typically allowed on farm parcels. Permits are often required for fences over 6 ft under the NY Uniform Code.
Building permits are required for fences over 6 ft in most Orange County NY municipalities (Newburgh, Middletown, Goshen, Warwick). Fences under 6 ft are typically exempt but must still comply with zoning setbacks. Permit fees range $25-$100.
Fence neighbor rules in Orange County NY are governed by NY Real Property Actions & Proceedings Law (RPAPL) §843 on spite fences and NY RPL §840 on boundary fences. A fence over 10 ft erected primarily to annoy a neighbor may be declared a private nuisance. NY has no statutory shared-cost requirement. Most Orange County towns require the finished (smooth) side of a fence to face the neighbor.
NY Residential Code Appendix G and §R326 require a 48-inch minimum barrier around pools over 24 inches deep. Self-closing, self-latching gates are mandatory. Pool alarms are required on pools built or modified after Dec 14, 2006. Applies to all Orange County NY pools including Newburgh, Middletown, and Goshen.
Orange County NY municipalities require sight-triangle clearance at intersections. The typical rule: no visual obstructions over 30 inches tall within 25-30 ft of the curb corner. NY VTL §1202 supports municipal visibility enforcement. Newburgh, Middletown, Goshen, Wallkill, and Warwick all include sight-triangle provisions in town zoning codes.
Wood, vinyl, chain link, and composite fencing are generally permitted across Orange County NY. Historic districts (Newburgh East End, Goshen Historic District) restrict chain link in front yards. No countywide material rules apply.
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