Fence Violation
NYC Building Code states that a fence violation occurs when a required construction or demolition fence under BC 3307.7 is missing, not properly maintained, or does not meet the color, height, viewing panel, or signage requirements.
Fence Color Rule
NYC Building Code Section 3307.7.9 requires solid construction/demolition fences erected on or after July 1, 2013, to be painted hunter green, with limited exceptions like matching a design-award-winning sidewalk shed. Under updated rules they allows acceptable colors of hunter green, metallic gray, or white, and also permits building-matching colors for certain existing buildings. These changes take effect on August 15, 2025, and non-compliance with the applicable rule at the time of installation or repainting can result in a violation.
For owners: what this means
- Your construction fence must be a solid fence and painted an approved color (hunter green, metallic gray, white, or another allowed color for your situation).
- The fence must have safe viewing windows so inspectors and the public can see inside the site without opening the fence.
- These viewing panels must follow size and height rules in Section 3307.7.3; if they are missing or installed incorrectly, the fence can get a violation.
- If your project also has a sidewalk shed or walkway, it must have proper lighting and protection for people passing under or near it.
- Missing lights, unsafe scaffold access, missing overhead protection, or unsafe hoist areas are common reasons for DOB violations on fences and sidewalk sheds.
revised 3/14/2026
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