Patchogue considers 10-foot street-facing fence setback in zoning cleanup

The Village Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Patchogue held a public hearing March 24 on a proposed local law to amend section 435.4 of the Village Code to require a minimum 10-foot setback for fences facing streets.

The proposal stems from requests made to the zoning board of appeals and is intended to reduce safety hazards where hedges or solid fences placed near street corners obstruct drivers’ or pedestrians’ sight lines. A presenter identified in the hearing record as zoning/planning staff said the change would require that where any lot boundary is adjacent to a street, road, or highway, no fence be erected within 10 feet of that boundary. The presenter noted the rule primarily affects corner lots.

Board members asked whether the setback would apply to all fence types. The proposal explicitly exempts chain-link fences “which will not contain inserts of any type” and split‑rail fences; the exemption does not extend to vegetation or dense shrubs. The presenter told the board: “Vegetation is not exempt. Provisions here shall apply to hedges or other densely growing shrubbery,” citing recurring instances in the village where plantings near corners have reduced visibility.

Trustees discussed examples in the village, including a long-standing hedge and fence at River Avenue that had previously required intervention. The hearing record shows a motion to close this public hearing and move the proposal forward. A copy of the proposed local law is on file at the village clerk’s office and members of the public may comment at the scheduled hearing.