--- title: "Westchester County Fence Permits by Municipality" description: "Fence permit rules, height limits and fees in White Plains, Yonkers, Peekskill, Mount Kisco, Ossining, Tarrytown and Port Chester, Westchester County." url: "https://portillo-fences.com/blog/westchester-fence-permits-by-town/" lang: "en" published: "2026-09-25" modified: "2026-09-25" tags: ["Fence Permits","Westchester County","Municipal Codes"] image: "https://portillo-fences.com/images/blog/westchester-fence-permits-by-town/featured.jpg" --- ![Westchester County Fence Permits by Municipality](https://portillo-fences.com/images/blog/westchester-fence-permits-by-town/featured.jpg) Fence & Gate Blog # Westchester County Fence Permits by Municipality Fence permit rules, height limits and fees in White Plains, Yonkers, Peekskill, Mount Kisco, Ossining, Tarrytown and Port Chester, Westchester County. [Get a Free Estimate](https://portillo-fences.com/contact-us/) [(845) 282-3336](tel:+18452823336) September 25, 2026 - Fence Permits - Westchester County - Municipal Codes Westchester County has 45 municipalities, and each one writes its own fence rules. [White Plains](https://portillo-fences.com/white-plains-ny/) and [Yonkers](https://portillo-fences.com/yonkers-ny/) do not require a fence permit. [Peekskill](https://portillo-fences.com/peekskill-ny/), [Tarrytown](https://portillo-fences.com/tarrytown-ny/) and [Port Chester](https://portillo-fences.com/port-chester-ny/) do. [Mount Kisco](https://portillo-fences.com/mount-kisco-ny/) exempts fences of 4 feet or less that are not part of a pool enclosure. The height limits are close to each other, but the paperwork is not. Find your municipality first, then call its building office with the project in hand. ## Key Takeaways No fence permit White Plains and Yonkers, with 4-foot front and 6-foot side and rear limits in both Permit required Peekskill, at $190 on the 2026 proposed fee schedule, and Tarrytown, at $100 plus $20 per $1,000 of cost Mount Kisco fences 4 feet or less that are not part of a swimming-pool enclosure are exempt, and the limit is 6 1/2 feet for other fences Survey required Peekskill and Tarrytown ask for one with the fence application, and Port Chester asks for a survey or plot plan County level Westchester County sets no single fence permit, but wetland, floodplain, watershed and road rules can still apply to your parcel ## White Plains and Yonkers **[White Plains](https://portillo-fences.com/white-plains-ny/)** does not require a fence permit. Zoning Ordinance Section 4.4.16 limits fences to 4 feet in a required front yard or any required yard that abuts a street, and 6 feet in a required side or rear yard. The finished side faces the neighbor or the street. Electrified, barbed-wire and sharp-material fences are prohibited in residential areas. On a residential corner lot, fences, walls, hedges and plantings cannot exceed 30 inches within the triangle formed 45 feet from the intersection. Walls over 30 inches need a building permit, and retaining walls need one at any height, so confirm with the Department of Building whether your project is a fence, a wall or a retaining wall. ![A corner lot where a low fence and hedge meet the street sidewalk](https://portillo-fences.com/images/blog/westchester-fence-permits-by-town/corner-lot-sight-triangle.jpg) On a residential corner lot in White Plains, fences, walls, hedges and plantings cannot exceed 30 inches within the triangle formed 45 feet from the intersection. **[Yonkers](https://portillo-fences.com/yonkers-ny/)** also states that no fence permit is required. City Code Section 43-41D keeps fences inside all lot lines and prohibits electrically charged, barbed-wire and sharp-material fences. The limit is 4 feet in a required front-yard setback or any required yard setback that abuts a street, and 6 feet in other required yard setbacks. In a nonresidential district, a fence at least 75 percent open can reach 8 feet. Fences cannot block driver visibility at street intersections or driveway openings, and certain residential corner lots have a 4-foot maximum in the visibility triangle. Contact Yonkers Housing and Buildings before you build. ## Peekskill [Peekskill](https://portillo-fences.com/peekskill-ny/) issues an Exterior Permit for fences through its Building Department, and work cannot begin until the permit is issued. The application asks for: - the proposed height, style, type and material, on three sets of specifications - workers' compensation and liability insurance forms - the property address, plus section, block, lot and zoning - a scaled plot plan, including a licensed-surveyor survey, under City Code Section 575-47 The [residential fence](https://portillo-fences.com/residential-fencing/) fee is $190 on the 2026 proposed fee schedule, up from $185 in 2025, and the commercial fee is $300, up from $290. Confirm the adopted 2026 fee before you file. Some fence or barrier proposals, including certain height exceptions, also need Planning Commission review. Approved plans and the permit must be kept at the premises during construction. Ask the Building Department for the expected review time. ![A fence permit application and a scaled plot plan on a clipboard beside a tape measure](https://portillo-fences.com/images/blog/westchester-fence-permits-by-town/permit-application-plot-plan.jpg) Peekskill asks for three sets of specifications and a scaled plot plan, including a licensed-surveyor survey. ## Mount Kisco [Mount Kisco](https://portillo-fences.com/mount-kisco-ny/) has a joint Village/Town Building Department, and the property's location decides which jurisdiction applies. Village Code Section 51-7 exempts fences that are 4 feet or less and not part of a swimming-pool enclosure. Fences over 4 feet and pool-enclosure fences go through review. Under Section 110-31, front-yard fences cannot exceed 4 feet, other fences cannot exceed 6 1/2 feet, and the finished side faces the adjoining property or street. ![Installers fastening a wood privacy panel between two set posts](https://portillo-fences.com/images/blog/westchester-fence-permits-by-town/fitting-panels-between-posts.jpg) Mount Kisco caps fences outside the front yard at 6 1/2 feet and faces the finished side toward the adjoining property or street. A permit application needs a notarized application, the fee, the contractor's proof of insurance and three sets of plans. An up-to-date survey may be required, and the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals or Architectural Review Board may also need to approve. The Building Inspector acts within a reasonable time, with no fixed number of days. Confirm the fee with the department. ## Ossining, village and town An address inside the Village of [Ossining](https://portillo-fences.com/ossining-ny/) goes to the village Building Department, and an address in the Town of Ossining outside the village goes to the town. In the **Village of [Ossining](https://portillo-fences.com/ossining-ny/)**, Chapter 92, Section 92-4(B), exempts fence installation from the building permit, though the exemption does not authorize work that violates the Uniform Code, Energy Code or local zoning. The zoning code lists recommended maximum heights of 48 inches along street frontages and public sidewalks, and 6 1/2 feet along lot lines or for privacy or screening. ![A finished four-foot ornamental fence along a sidewalk frontage](https://portillo-fences.com/images/blog/westchester-fence-permits-by-town/finished-fence-street-frontage.jpg) Ossining's zoning code lists recommended maximums of 48 inches along street frontages and 6 1/2 feet along lot lines. In the **Town of [Ossining](https://portillo-fences.com/ossining-ny/)**, Town Code Section 200-40 requires a building permit for buildings and structural alterations, while the stormwater code exempts fence installation from its land-development permit requirements. Identify which office handles your address, then confirm the fee and review time with that office. ## Tarrytown and Port Chester **[Tarrytown](https://portillo-fences.com/tarrytown-ny/).** The village Building Department issues the permit even though the village sits within the Town of Greenburgh. Code Section 305-47(B)(7) limits ordinary [fencing](https://portillo-fences.com/fencing/) to 6 feet and prohibits barbed wire. The application needs: - a building permit application and fee - three copies of a current survey or plot plan by a licensed land surveyor - the fence type and material - compliance with intersection visibility rules A fence over 3 feet high or 20 feet long that is visible from a public street needs Architectural Review Board approval, with eight copies of a scaled drawing or descriptive material and a survey. The fee is $100 plus $20 per $1,000 of renovation cost, and the board fee is $100 plus $2.50 per $1,000 of work value, on the schedule last revised February 7, 2024. Board applications are due 18 days before the monthly meeting on the third Wednesday. **[Port Chester](https://portillo-fences.com/port-chester-ny/).** The village Building Department issues the permit, though the village sits within the Town of Rye. Code Section 151-4 sets a residential base fee of $200 plus $20 per $1,000 of construction cost, and the fee schedule does not list a separate fence category, so confirm the fence fee with the department. The application includes two signed, notarized applications, three color photographs showing the adjacent buildings and work location, contractor or homeowner insurance information, and a survey or plot plan. Where Architectural Board of Review submission is required, add four sets of plans showing front, side and rear elevations. A nonrefundable review fee of $75 for residential work is credited toward the permit fee after favorable review. Board applications are due ten days before the meeting date, and you should contact the department three working days after the meeting for final permit requirements. ## Municipalities side by side ## Municipalities side by side Fence permit: Not required Height limits: 4 feet front or street side; 6 feet side and rear Survey or plot plan: For walls and retaining walls needing a permit Tap a row to open it. ## What the county adds Westchester County's Department of Planning says each of the 45 municipalities holds home-rule authority over planning, zoning, subdivision and site-plan processing. The county does not set one ordinary fence permit. Wetland, watercourse, floodplain, watershed, stormwater and public-road rules can still apply, administered by the municipality, New York State or another agency depending on the site. Before you build, ask the office that issues your fence permit whether any of those restrictions touch your parcel. **Quiz: Check yourself** 1. Which two Westchester municipalities do not require a fence permit? - White Plains and Yonkers **(correct answer)** - Peekskill and Yonkers - Tarrytown and White Plains 2. What is Peekskill's residential fence fee on the 2026 proposed fee schedule? - $190 **(correct answer)** - $185 - $300 3. What is Mount Kisco's height limit for fences outside the front yard? - 6 1/2 feet **(correct answer)** - 6 feet - 8 feet 4. What is Tarrytown's building permit fee for a fence? - $100 plus $20 per $1,000 of cost **(correct answer)** - $200 plus $20 per $1,000 of cost - $100 plus $2.50 per $1,000 of cost ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Do I need a permit for a fence in [White Plains](https://portillo-fences.com/white-plains-ny/) or [Yonkers](https://portillo-fences.com/yonkers-ny/)?** A: Not for an ordinary fence. Both cities regulate height and placement through zoning. White Plains does require a building permit for walls over 30 inches and for any retaining wall. **Q: How tall can a front-yard fence be?** A: 4 feet in White Plains, Yonkers and [Mount Kisco](https://portillo-fences.com/mount-kisco-ny/). [Tarrytown](https://portillo-fences.com/tarrytown-ny/)'s published limit is 6 feet for ordinary fencing, with Architectural Review Board approval for fences over 3 feet high or 20 feet long that are visible from a public street. **Q: Do I need a survey?** A: [Peekskill](https://portillo-fences.com/peekskill-ny/) and Tarrytown ask for one with the permit application, and [Port Chester](https://portillo-fences.com/port-chester-ny/) asks for a survey or plot plan. In Mount Kisco one may be required. Ask your building office early, since a survey takes time to order. **Q: What does a fence permit cost?** A: Peekskill lists $190 for residential fences on its 2026 proposed schedule, and Tarrytown charges $100 plus $20 per $1,000 of cost. Other municipalities should be asked for the current fee. **Q: Which office do I call in Ossining or Mount Kisco?** A: Check whether your address is inside the village or the town. Ossining handles village and town addresses separately, and Mount Kisco's joint department applies the rules of the jurisdiction your property is in. **Q: Can I build a [pool fence](https://portillo-fences.com/pool-fencing/) under the same rules?** A: Pool enclosure fences go through additional review in Mount Kisco, and state pool barrier rules apply across the county. See our [pool fencing](https://portillo-fences.com/pool-fencing/) page. Your permit answer comes from one place: the office that issues permits for your address. Confirm the municipality, ask about height, survey, fee and review time, and get the answer before ordering materials. At [Portillo Fences and Gates](https://portillo-fences.com/), we install and repair fencing across Putnam, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Rockland Counties, from [wood](https://portillo-fences.com/wood-fencing/) and [vinyl](https://portillo-fences.com/vinyl-fencing/) to [aluminum](https://portillo-fences.com/aluminum-fencing/) and [residential fencing](https://portillo-fences.com/residential-fencing/), and our [service areas](https://portillo-fences.com/service-areas/) page lists the towns we cover. We confirm what your municipality requires before work starts. [Contact us](https://portillo-fences.com/contact-us/) for a free estimate, or call [(845) 282-3336](tel:+18452823336). ## Ready to talk through your project? Get a free estimate from a licensed, insured Hudson Valley fence and gate team. [Get a Free Estimate](https://portillo-fences.com/contact-us/)[Call (845) 282-3336](tel:+18452823336)