Colonie, NY Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Town of Colonie Code § 62-14 requires a building permit for construction, alteration, or installation work governed by the Uniform Code, but Subsection B lists work exempt from that requirement, and fences are treated differently depending on what they enclose. Subsection B(4) exempts "installation of fences which are not part of an enclosure surrounding a swimming pool," meaning an ordinary property-line or privacy fence is exempt from the building permit process entirely. Read together with Subsection A, that exemption confirms the reverse: a fence forming part of a swimming pool's required barrier is not exempt, so it needs the same building permit as the pool itself before work starts.

Applicants file with the Building Department Manager, and § 62-14D requires the application in writing, signed by the owner or an authorized agent, with an affidavit if someone other than the owner applies. Under § 62-16, work cannot begin until the Building Department Manager confirms the plans comply with the Uniform Code and Energy Code and issues the permit, which must then be displayed at the work site under § 62-16B until the work is complete. A pool-enclosure fence permit becomes invalid if work has not started within six months of issuance and expires 12 months after issuance for residential projects under § 62-17B, though it can be renewed on application and payment of the applicable fee.

Because § 62-14C makes clear that an exemption "shall not be deemed an authorization for work to be performed in violation of the Uniform Code," even an exempt standalone fence must still meet the Uniform Code's structural and safety provisions; it is simply spared the separate paperwork step.