

“Once something is built on your property, it is your responsibility,” Vetter says. He also cautions against letting your neighbor build a fence on your property. If your HOA or restricted covenant doesn’t specify where a new fence must be built, Thomas Vetter, operations manager of Jan Fence in Pequannock, NJ, says you’re always better off building your own fence on your own property rather than negotiating with a neighbor, which may lead to liability problems down the road. On whose property should you build the fence? It’s better to hear them out sooner rather than later. Your neighbors may have strong feelings about these issues. Plus, there may be aesthetic issues to discuss: “Do you save money by installing a cheaper fence with a front and a back, or do you spend more money and get a fence that looks good on both sides?” In the best-case scenario, “they may volunteer to share the cost 50-50,” he points out. If there are no stated restrictions, then it’s basically up to you and your neighbor to work it out together, hopefully in a friendly manner.ĭavid Reiss, a professor at Brooklyn Law School, says it’s always best to get your neighbor’s input rather than just forging ahead. Some covenants will spell out how repairs and new fences should be handled between neighbors-even if you build the fence entirely on your own property-while others will not. You can also visit : Click on your state and county to get to your local government’s website, where you can find info on fence permits or a phone number under “planning and zoning” to get your questions answered.įences may also be regulated by a homeowners association and/or your home’s restrictive covenant, which is typically found in your property deed and states how your land can be used.įor example, the height limit for fences is typically 6 feet for back and side fences and 4 feet for front-yard fences.

To find your own local regulations, search online for “fence permit” along with your county and/or state. Laws and regulations vary by state: In California, for instance, the “good neighbor fence” law requires neighbors to split the cost evenly.

Whether your neighbor can weigh in depends largely on where you live, according to Marc Markel of Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey in Texas. Does your neighbor have a say on your fence? If you’re facing any of these questions as you contemplate some fence work, read on. Do you and your neighbor both have a say on the height, style, and color-and should you split the costs evenly? If this data is unavailable or inaccurate and you own or represent this business, click here for more information on how you may be able to correct it.Good fences make good neighbors, but how do you make a good fence, exactly? After all, it’s not just a question of marking the division between two pieces of property. VIEW ADDITIONAL DATA Select from over 115 networks below to view available data about this business.
