Buffalo limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards under the Buffalo Green Code. Corner lots have additional visibility triangle rules. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit and zoning review.
The Buffalo Unified Development Ordinance (Green Code), adopted in 2017, governs fence heights citywide. Front-yard fences are capped at 4 feet measured from grade. Side- and rear-yard fences may be up to 6 feet. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit from the Department of Permit and Inspection Services and must pass zoning review, typically allowed only in industrial zones or for specific security needs. In historic preservation districts such as Allentown, Linwood, and Parkside, the Preservation Board must approve fence design and materials. Corner-lot visibility triangles (clear sight-lines at intersections) further limit fence height to 30 inches within 25 feet of a corner intersection. Spite-fence claims fall under NY Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law section 843.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how Buffalo's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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