Smithtown, NY Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- General fence height cap
- 6 feet
- Front-yard fence cap
- 4 feet
- Corner sight-triangle cap
- 2.5 feet (§ 322-16)
- Arbor exception
- Up to 8 feet
- Sight-triangle distance
- 50 ft arterial / 30 ft residential
- First-offense fine
- $500 to $5,000
Summary
Smithtown caps fences, walls and berms at six feet, drops that limit to four feet in a required front yard, and restricts them to two and a half feet inside a corner-lot sight triangle. Height is measured from grade to the top of the fence, posts included, under § 322-13.
No fence, wall, or berm shall exceed six feet in height; except that no fence, wall, or berm in a required front yard shall exceed four feet in height, except as otherwise provided in the Table of Dimensional Regulations located at the end of this chapter, and no fence, wall, or berm in a corner clearance triangle, as described in § 322-16 of this chapter, shall exceed two feet in height.
Full Breakdown
" Subsection C measures that height vertically from natural or approved grade to the top of the fence or wall, including posts and appurtenances, though a decorative arbor built into a fence can rise to eight feet. A is spelled out in § 322-16, last amended 4-20-2023: within the sight triangle at a corner lot on a Town collector or arterial roadway, or a residential roadway, no fence, wall, hedge, shrub, or other obstruction over two and a half feet above curb level is allowed, except trees trimmed clear to eight feet.
The triangle on a collector or arterial is measured 50 feet from the intersecting street center lines; on a residential roadway it is measured 30 feet. B, and posts and structural members must face inward under Subsection D except where a residential fence abuts business or industrial land.
Violations & Fines
Section 322-106.A of the Zoning Ordinance governs fence-height violations along with the rest of Chapter 322: a fine of $500 to $5,000 for a first conviction, $2,000 to $10,000 for a second within five years, and $4,000 to $15,000 or up to six months in jail for a third. Each day a violation continues after notice is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Smithtown?
What is the fence height limit in my front yard?
How short does my fence need to be on a corner lot?
Can I build a taller decorative arch into my fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Smithtown
How Smithtown compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·New York rules heatmap·Compare Smithtown to another location·View the New York fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Suffolk County handle height limits.