[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Caledonia 6-7-1988
by L.L. No. 1-1988 (Ch. 55 of the 1981 Code); amended in
its entirety 7-6-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004.
Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "2004 Fence Law of the Village of
Caledonia."
As used in this chapter. the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any wall, screening, or barrier erected on premises used or to he
used for residential purposes and erected for the purpose of enclosing an
area of land, dividing an area of land, and/or screening a portion of land
from adjacent properties.
That portion of the premises between the front foundation of a dwelling
on the premises extended to the side lines of the premises and the curb.
A screening or barrier consisting of bushes, trees, or other vegetation
planted in such a manner as to impede a person from seeing through and/or
gaining access through or over the barrier.
That portion of premises other than the portion described hereinabove
as a "front yard."
A.
No person, corporation, firm or association shall erect
a constructed fence unless the Code Enforcement Officer of the Village of
Caledonia has issued a permit for the construction thereof. An application
for the construction of a fence shall be made on a form provided by the Code
Enforcement Officer and shall be accompanied by a plan sketch showing the
proposed location of a fence in relation to the boundaries and other improvements
on the property. The application shall also show the materials that will be
used in the construction of the fence. The applicant shall, at the time of
application, pay such fee as may be called for by separate resolution of the
Board of Trustees. The Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a permit for construction
only if the proposed constructed fence complies with all provisions of this
chapter. The permit shall permit construction within a period of six months
from the date of issuance thereof.
B.
No permit shall be required for repair or replacement
of a constructed fence, provided the repair or replacement fence is identical
in location and height, with materials similar to the original constructed
fence, and that the proposed repaired or replacement fence complies with all
provisions of this chapter.
C.
No permit shall be required for a living fence.
A.
Constructed fences shall be constructed and maintained,
through the provisions of gates, passageways, and other such openings, so
as to permit access from the front yard to the rear yard for fire fighting
and ambulance personnel and their equipment.
B.
Constructed fences shall not be erected closer than two
inches from a property line such that the owner can perform maintenance on
the constructed fence without trespassing on adjoining properties. If the
fence is agreed as jointly owned and maintained by two adjacent property owners,
then the fence may be located on the property line.
C.
Constructed fences may be erected in front yards, provided
the materials are not prohibited and provided the fence is located not closer
than 24 inches to the edge of a public sidewalk nor three feet from the front
property line, whichever is less. Constructed fences located in front yards
shall not exceed a maximum height of three feet for closed fencing, nor four
feet in height for open fencing. For the purposes of this section, the term
"open fencing" shall refer to fencing that is at least 75% open (i.e., post-
and rail-fence). Fencing that is less than 75% open shall be considered "closed
fencing."
D.
Constructed fences may be erected in rear yards. The
height of such fences shall not exceed six feet measured from the preexisting
grade of the premises to the top of the fence.
E.
A temporary snow fence may be erected in front yards
and rear yards between November 1 and April 1.
F.
All materials, such as braces, pipes, and posts used
to support a fence along a property boundary, shall be constructed on the
side of the fence away from the property boundary.
The following materials are prohibited in the construction of a fence,
unless otherwise noted:
A.
Barbed wire.
B.
Chain link fence. (Except chain link is permitted for
rear yard fences; a closed top loop shall be provided at the top of all chain
link fences.)
C.
Short pointed metal fences.
D.
Canvas fences.
E.
Cloth fences.
F.
Electrically charged fences.
G.
Poultry fences.
H.
Turkey wire.
I.
Expandable and collapsible fences, except during temporary
construction of a building or other excavations.
J.
Gates, unless the gates open into the property.
A.
Living fences shall not be maintained closer than two
inches from a property line.
B.
Living fences in a front yard shall not exceed three
feet in height.
C.
A Living fence in a rear yard may be maintained at any
height.
D.
A living fence shall be constructed and maintained, through
the provisions of passageways and other such openings, so as to permit access
from the front yard to the rear yard for fire fighting and ambulance personnel
and their equipment.
A.
Neither a constructed fence nor a living fence shall
be installed, repaired, or replaced that poses a potential hazard to either
pedestrians or motorists by restricting vision.
B.
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner
whose land contains either a constructed fence or living fence to maintain
such fence so that it remains structurally sound and does not aesthetically
detract from neighboring properties. The property owner is also responsible
for regular upkeep of a living fence, and for regular mowing and trimming
of vegetation around a constructed fence.
Any person, firm, or corporation who or which shall violate any of the
provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty in the amount not
to exceed $250 or 15 days' imprisonment, or both. Appropriate actions
and proceedings may be taken at law or in equity to prevent the unlawful construction
or to restrain, correct, or abate a violation, and these remedies shall be
in addition to the penalties described in New York Penal Law.
