[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Ravena 9-3-1991 as L.L. No. 3-1991. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any structure, regardless of composition, except a living
fence, that is erected or maintained for the purpose of enclosing
a piece of land or dividing a piece of land into distinct portions.
Applies to that portion of the yard in front of the front
building line of any building. All corner properties adjacent to a
public street, alley or highway shall also be considered as "front
yards" for the purposes of this chapter. However, this definition
shall specifically not apply for purposes of swimming pool protection.
The distance measured from the existing grade to the top
of the fence.
Applies to that portion of the yard from the rear building
line of any building to the rear of the lot.
Applies to that portion of the yard in front of the rear
building line of any building and to the rear of the front building
line of any building.
No fence, wall or other type of construction shall be erected
without the approval of the Building Inspector.
Any person or persons, corporation, firm or association intending
to erect a fence shall, before any work is commenced, make application
to the Building Inspector on a form provided by said officer or his
designated substitute. Said application shall be accompanied by a
plan or sketch showing the proposed location of any fence and the
materials proposed to be used therein, which must be in accordance
with this chapter and any other pertinent local law regulating construction
within the village, and shall be accompanied by an appropriate fee.
Upon approval by the Building Inspector, a temporary permit shall
be issued which will be in effect for a period of one year from the
date thereon. Said permit shall be available on the job during the
progress of the work so that it may be inspected by proper village
officials. The Building Inspector shall inspect any such fence and
may revoke said permit if the fence does not comply with all provisions
of this Code.
[Amended 3-16-1999 by L.L. No. 1-1999]
No fence shall be more than six feet in height at the rear of homes or buildings situated in a residentially zoned district, which fence shall not extend forward of the rear building line of any existing or proposed building. No other fence or portions of a fence shall be higher than 48 inches in any front yard, subject to the terms of § 119-23 of Chapter 119, Zoning, or 48 inches in any side yard.
Any fence erected in a front yard shall be placed at least two
feet back from the sidewalk or property line, and the applicant or
owner shall maintain the property on both sides of the fence.
Any fence, wall or similar structure, as well as shrubbery,
which unduly cuts off light or air or which may cause a nuisance,
a fire hazard or a dangerous condition or an obstruction to combating
fires or an obstruction to men and equipment for combating fires,
which may affect public safety, is hereby expressly prohibited. Further,
no fence shall be erected in a front yard in a residential district
or along a public right-of-way unless the fence is uniformly less
than 50% solid.
The following fences and fencing materials are specifically
prohibited:
All chain link fences erected shall be erected with the closed
loop at the top of the fence.
All entrances or gates shall open into the property.
Any fence, wood, stockade, chain link or other type of fence
shall have the smooth side or finished side facing to the outside
of the property owner installing the fence. Fence posts will be placed
on the inside of the fence.
[Amended 4-21-2015 by L.L. No. 3-2015]
Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the Building
Inspector may issue a permit for the construction of a security fence
for commercial and industrial properties, upon due application to
and approval by the Building Inspector of the Village of Ravena. The
Building Inspector may deny such application if it is found that the
application for such fence is not appropriate and is unnecessary.
Upon such denial, the applicant may appeal the Building Inspector's
decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning Board of the Village
of Ravena by notice to the same within 30 days of such denial. In
the event that said Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning Board substantiates
the denial of the Building Inspector, the applicant may resort to
proper legal proceedings according to the statutes of the State of
New York.
All fences or walls must be erected within the property line,
and none shall be erected so as to encroach upon a public right-of-way
or interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic or interfere with
visibility on corner lots and/or other structures or vehicles, whether
stationary or transitory, on private or public property.
The Building Inspector or Village Mayor shall have the authority
to direct, in writing, the removal, trimming or modification of any
shrubs, bushes, plants, trees, flowers or other vegetation, fence,
wall, hedge or other structure on private or public property wherever
the same shall interfere with adequate visibility of operators of
motor vehicles at street intersections or curbs.
Any person, firm or corporation or his or her or its agent,
servant, workman or employee violating any of the provisions of this
chapter shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $100. Each day's
continuance of a violation after notice to cease shall be deemed a
separate and distinct offense and shall be punishable accordingly.
