New York Attorney General Letitia James is facing a potential fine related to a fence at her multi-family residence in Clinton Hill, which stands at 5 feet, 6 inches—well above the legal limit of 4 feet. She’s set to appear before an administrative law judge on October 8th, where she could be fined up to $500. Her brownstone is currently under scrutiny regarding allegations of mortgage fraud.
The city issued a notice on July 23rd following multiple anonymous complaints since April about the fence. Councilman Robert Holden emphasized that all public officials, including James, should adhere to the same regulations as any other homeowner. He stated that if the Department of Buildings has valid concerns about the mortgage, James should correct the situation, pay any fines, and ensure transparency.
James has also been accused of misrepresenting the number of units in her Brooklyn property; city records indicate it has five units, contrary to her claim of four when she purchased it in 2001.
To avoid fines, she must either remove the fence or reduce its height to comply with regulations by September 26th. Local residents expressed surprise at the situation, with one individual mentioning she had inherited the fence when James bought the property decades ago.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice looking into allegations that she committed mortgage fraud via forged documents in relation to her Clinton Hill property and additional co-owned properties in Virginia.
Longtime neighbors noted that there are other homes on the street with high fences that haven’t been cited. While James has labeled the fraud allegations as “basically unfounded” and linked them to her legal disputes with President Trump, records indicate she has also been late on the annual real estate registration fee for her property.
James has not responded to requests for comment.
