September 16, 2026
- Fence Permits
- Putnam County
- Town Codes
Putnam County has no countywide fence permit, so the answer depends on which municipality your parcel sits in. Carmel and Patterson do not require a building permit for a fence. Kent does not for a fence up to 6 feet in a side or rear yard. Southeast, the Village of Brewster and Putnam Valley do, though Putnam Valley only for fences within 5 feet of a property line or roadway.
Zoning height limits apply in every one of them, with or without a permit.
Key Takeaways
Permit required
Town of Southeast, Village of Brewster, and Putnam Valley for fences within 5 feet of a property line or roadway
No building permit, zoning still applies
Town of Carmel and Town of Patterson, with a 4-foot front limit and a 6-foot side and rear limit
Kent
no permit for a fence up to 6 feet in a side or rear yard, and no 6-foot fences within front yard setbacks
Brewster fee
$100 for fences and walls over 36 inches, plus $5 per $1,000 of demolition cost, on the village fee schedule dated April 4, 2019
Village or town matters
an address inside the Village of Brewster goes to the Village Code Enforcement Officer, and everything else in Southeast goes to the Town Building Inspector
Town of Southeast and Village of Brewster
Brewster is a village inside the Town of Southeast, so the first step is finding out which side of the line your property is on. Your tax record will tell you.
Village of Brewster. Village Code Section 263-17(P) requires a permit from the Village Code Enforcement Officer before any fence, stone wall or masonry wall is constructed or installed, and that officer inspects the completed work. Fences are limited to 4 feet in front yards or side yards in front of the building line, and 6 feet in rear yards or side yards behind it. Tennis-court fences can reach 10 feet and dumpster enclosures 8. The village fee schedule lists fences and walls over 36 inches at $100, plus $5 per $1,000 of demolition cost, with a separate $100 Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance fee. The building permit application asks for two sets of plans and specifications, a plot plan or survey showing setbacks to property lines, drainage and soil protection information, the contractor's license and liability and workers' compensation insurance, and an owner consent form. Ask the Code Enforcement Officer for the current review timeframe.
Town of Southeast, outside the village. Town Code Section 138-101(A) requires a permit from the Building Inspector to erect, alter or relocate a fence or stone wall, except on a farm for agricultural uses. Section 138-102 says no permit is needed to replace, repaint or repair a fence consistent with its original location, form, design and dimensions. Section 138-103 asks for the applicant's and owner's names, addresses and phone numbers, the property location, scaled elevation and plan drawings for a new fence, a description of its placement and appearance, its location relative to buildings, structures and property lines, and written owner consent or a copy of the contract if the applicant is not the owner. When Architectural Review Board review is required, the application goes to the board within 15 days, and residential fences in residential districts are exempt from that review. Confirm the permit fee and the review timeframe with the Town of Southeast Building Department.
Town of Carmel and Mahopac
The Carmel Building Department, at 60 McAlpin Avenue in Mahopac, says building permits are not required for fences, but fences must meet the zoning code. Under Town Code Section 156-19(A)(1)(a), fences and walls are accessory structures. They may not exceed 4 feet in a front yard or a side yard in front of the building line, or 6 feet in a rear yard or a side yard behind it. Height is measured from natural grade, and a fence needs a gate or other emergency access.
Because there is no permit, there is no permit fee or application. The zoning limits are still enforceable, so measure before you build.
Town of Patterson
The Patterson Building Department says a building permit is not required to build a fence, but the fence must be installed as Section 154-15 of the Zoning Code says. That section limits fences, stone walls and masonry walls to 6 feet, except along lot frontage, where the total height cannot exceed 4 feet. Tennis-court fences can reach 10 feet. Under Section 154-15(E), no building permit or certificate of occupancy is required for a fence or wall within those height limits.
Town of Putnam Valley
Putnam Valley Code Section 165-27(I)(1) requires a building permit for all fences, walls and enclosures within 5 feet of any property line or roadway. The finished side has to face the adjacent property or roadway. Side and rear yard fences are limited to 6 feet and front-property-line fences to 4 feet. Pool fences must comply with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and be at least 4 feet high under the local code.
The town's Fence/Wall Permit application asks for the owner, tax map number, property location, nearest intersection, subdivision and lot number, zoning, lot size, estimated cost, a description of the construction, floodplain status, the signature of the owner or agent, the Putnam County contractor's name and license number, and a plot plan. The Building and Zoning Inspector approves the plot plan, and the town says incomplete applications are not accepted. Call the Putnam Valley Building Department for the current fee and review timeframe.
Town of Kent
Kent states that a fence up to 6 feet high does not need a permit in a side or rear yard, and that no 6-foot fences are allowed within front yard setbacks. No obstruction to vision above 30 inches may be placed at a street intersection.
If the work does need a building permit, the town asks for an application and fee, two sets of plans (one hard copy and one PDF or USB), a copy of the survey, homeowner signatures, and contractor license and insurance or homeowner insurance. The 2025 application lists a $50 application fee and says building fees follow a construction-cost schedule. A $100 Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance fee is collected after the final inspection on permitted work.
The six towns side by side
The six towns side by side
Permit for a new fence: Yes
Height limits: 4 feet front and side in front of building line; 6 feet rear and side behind
Where to apply: Village Code Enforcement Officer
Tap a row to open it.
Pool fences are a separate rule
A fence around a pool is governed by the New York State Uniform Code in every one of these towns. The 2025 Residential Code, Section R328, applies to pools, spas and hot tubs at one- and two-family homes, and the Department of State summarizes the general requirement as an intact barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Local rules can be stricter, as Putnam Valley's 4-foot minimum shows. Our pool fencing page covers the barrier details.
Inspections and certificates
Brewster requires the Code Enforcement Officer to inspect completed work and lists a $100 Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance fee for fences over 36 inches. Patterson requires no certificate of occupancy for a fence within the height limits. For Southeast, Putnam Valley and Kent, confirm with the building department whether a closing inspection or certificate applies to your project before you start.
Check yourself
1. Which municipality requires a permit only for fences within 5 feet of a property line or roadway?
2. What is the maximum fence height in a Carmel front yard?
3. Which office handles a fence permit for a Brewster address?
4. What minimum barrier height does the Department of State summarize for a pool fence?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a permit for a fence in Carmel? A: Not a building permit, but the fence still has to meet the zoning limits of 4 feet in the front yard and 6 feet in the side and rear yards, with a gate or emergency access.
Q: Can I put a 6-foot fence in my front yard in Kent? A: No. Kent allows a 6-foot fence without a permit only in a side or rear yard, and does not allow 6-foot fences within front yard setbacks.
Q: Do I need a permit to repair a fence in Southeast? A: Not if the repair keeps the fence's original location, form, design and dimensions. A new, altered or relocated fence needs one.
Q: Which office handles a Brewster address? A: The Village of Brewster Code Enforcement Officer. An address elsewhere in the Town of Southeast goes to the Town Building Inspector.
Q: Does Putnam Valley require a permit for every fence? A: It requires one for fences, walls and enclosures within 5 feet of any property line or roadway. Confirm the distance with a survey or the building department.
Q: What does a permit cost? A: Brewster lists $100 for fences over 36 inches, and Kent lists a $50 application fee on permitted work. For Southeast and Putnam Valley, ask the building department for the current fee.
The rules above are short enough to read in one sitting, but the cost of getting one wrong is a stop-work order or a fence that has to be moved. Check your tax record for the municipality, call that building office, and ask what it needs from you before the first post goes in.
At Portillo Fences and Gates, we install and repair fencing across Putnam, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Rockland Counties, from wood and vinyl to aluminum and residential fencing, and our service areas page lists the towns we cover. We confirm what your town requires before work starts. Contact us for a free estimate, or call (845) 282-3336.