Albany's Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance limits front-yard fences to 4 feet and rear/side-yard fences to 6 feet in residential districts. Fences must be set back from the right-of-way, may not obstruct sight triangles at intersections, and barbed wire or electric fences are prohibited in residential zones. Permits are required for fences over 6 feet.
Albany adopted the Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO) in 2017, replacing the patchwork zoning code with a single form-based document. Article V of the USDO sets standards for accessory structures including fences. In residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-T, R-V, MU-NE, MU-CU), fences in the front yard — the area between the principal structure and the public right-of-way — may not exceed 4 feet in height. Fences in side and rear yards may not exceed 6 feet. Anything taller than 6 feet, regardless of yard, requires a building permit from the Department of Buildings & Regulatory Compliance, and may require Planning Board review.
Fences must be set back from the public right-of-way (typically the sidewalk or curb line, not the property line). Corner lots are subject to sight-triangle restrictions: nothing taller than 3 feet may be installed within 25 feet of the intersection of two streets, to preserve driver and pedestrian visibility. The finished side of a fence — the side without rails or posts visible — must face the neighbor or public way. Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fences are prohibited in residential districts; they are permitted only in industrial zones and only with additional setback. Historic districts (Center Square, Mansion Hill, Ten Broeck Triangle, Pastures, Arbor Hill) impose additional review by the Historic Resources Commission, which evaluates material, style, and historical compatibility.
Building a non-compliant fence is a zoning violation. The Department of Buildings & Regulatory Compliance can issue a stop-work order, require removal, and assess fines of $250–$1,000 per day until corrected. In historic districts, work without a Certificate of Appropriateness can result in additional fines and required restoration to the original condition.
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