Troy, NY Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Troy City Code § 285-76 is the fence section of the zoning chapter in the City of Troy, New York. It starts by saying that, unless specifically noted, the provisions of the chapter do not apply to fences and freestanding walls, and then sets its own rules. Subsection A requires a work permit for any new or replacement fence or freestanding wall, issued by the Director of Code Enforcement under § 285-37.

Height limits come in two tiers. Under Subsection C, fences in the B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, IND, INST and CON Zones can be erected to a maximum height of 10 feet, with no barbed wire in the bottom eight feet. Any fence or wall hereafter erected that is more than eight feet in height must be reviewed by the Planning Board and is subject to the terms and conditions the Board requires. Under Subsection D, fences in all other zones can be erected to a maximum of eight feet, except that new fences located between the front property line and the front line of the main building in R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts cannot exceed four feet. Beyond that front-yard exception the section prints one figure for the rest of the lot.

Corner lots carry an added limit through Subsection B, which sends readers to § 285-73. On any corner lot in a district, no building, fence, wall, hedge or other structure or planting more than three feet in height can be erected, placed or maintained within the triangular area formed by the intersecting curblines and a straight line joining the curblines at points 30 feet from their point of intersection, measured along the curblines. The three feet is measured above the road surface at the nearest edge of the pavement, and the rule does not apply to existing trees with no branches closer than six feet to the ground. Subsection E adds an appearance standard: fences must use new or good used materials, stay structurally sound and plumb, and stay free from excessive rust, peeling or faded coatings.