The Village of Williston Park Board of Trustees approved a law amending the regulations of porches and front yards late last month.The village previously held a hearing on the local law in December, where village attorney Jim Bradley explained the law, which will also delete the definition of portico—replacing it with porch.
The new legislation allows open or covered porches that extend six feet from a house.
The changes permit a porch with a roof supported by columns and open on three sides, or an open porch without a roof to encroach into the front yard. Bradley said the porch can’t stand more than three feet above grade. The law also adds a new section to prohibit a covered or uncovered porch that does not meet the requirements.
“The concept is to permit greater encroachment into the front yard of a residential premises, however it can not go closer than 10 feet from the street line,” Bradley has said.
The village has received positive feedback on the local law from residents, and Mayor Paul Ehrbar has praised the change as helping to bring a charm to the village.
