N.Y. Town Law § 309
Barbed or other wire may be used in the construction of any division fence, provided, that such fence, be built in the following manner: The fence shall be of at least four strands of wire with the posts and supports of such fence, at such distances apart, as the fence viewers of the town may prescribe, but the posts thereof shall be no further apart than fourteen feet; and such fence shall be otherwise substantially built and a reasonable sufficient inclosure for holding the particular kind or class of cattle or animals usually pastured on either side of the fence. Nothing contained in section three hundred seven shall be construed to authorize the electors of any town to prohibit the use of wire fences, for division fences, if such fences comply with the requirements of this section. Whenever such fence shall become so out of repair as to be unsafe, it shall be the duty of the owner or owners to immediately repair the same. But this section shall not be so construed as to permit railroad corporations to use barbed wire in the construction of fences along their lines contrary to the provisions of section fifty-two of the railroad law.
N.Y. Town Law § 309