N.Y. Town Law § 309

§ 309. Use of barbed or other wire for division fence. Barbed or other\nwire may be used in the construction of any division fence, provided,\nthat such fence, be built in the following manner: The fence shall be\nof at least four strands of wire with the posts and supports of such\nfence, at such distances apart, as the fence viewers of the town may\nprescribe, but the posts thereof shall be no further apart than fourteen\nfeet; and such fence shall be otherwise substantially built and a\nreasonable sufficient inclosure for holding the particular kind or class\nof cattle or animals usually pastured on either side of the fence.\nNothing contained in section three hundred seven shall be construed to\nauthorize the electors of any town to prohibit the use of wire fences,\nfor division fences, if such fences comply with the requirements of this\nsection. Whenever such fence shall become so out of repair as to be\nunsafe, it shall be the duty of the owner or owners to immediately\nrepair the same. But this section shall not be so construed as to permit\nrailroad corporations to use barbed wire in the construction of fences\nalong their lines contrary to the provisions of section fifty-two of the\nrailroad law.\n