Who owns a fence between two houses?

Depends on the property line, more information would be needed here. You can refer to your survey to get a clearer picture of the situation.

A fence between two houses is typically owned jointly by both neighbors if it sits directly on the property boundary line, making them equally responsible for maintenance and costs. If the fence is located entirely on one person's property, that person usually owns it. I would suggest checking the deed / survey to confirm ownership. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Operations In: NY, NJ, FL & CA

Almost always, the fence belongs to the property it sits on. If it is directly on the line and both neighbors paid for it, it is jointly owned. If one side built and paid, it is jointly owned. If one side built and paid, that side owns it. The survey is the tiebreaker. In Hernando County and across Spring Hill, most subdivisions from the 1980s and 1990s have the original fences sitting a few inches inside one side of the property line, not on it. That means one owner, even when it faces both yards. Pull the last survey, or order a new one from a Florida-licensed surveyor, and you will know in about ten days. What to do if you need to repair or replace: talk to the neighbor first and split costs if both benefit, and put any cost-share in writing. Most fence disputes on the Nature Coast start as informal handshakes that got forgotten after one side sold the house. A simple signed note protects both of you at resale. A two-line email beats a two-year feud. -- Kevin Neely & Kaitlynd Robbins | K2 Sells

Get a survey to know for sure where the property line is. If the fence is on your property, it's technically yours to maintain. If it's directly on the line, you'd typically share the responsibility, but that requires both of you agreeing to split the cost. If they're not willing to chip in, you might need to decide if it's worth fixing on your own to solve the dog issue.

Hi Dominic You may want to check your property lines to find out whose property the fence is located on and then work something out with the neighbor once you know.

This really comes down to one thing, your survey. What you “think” is the property line doesn’t matter nearly as much as what’s actually recorded. That fence might look like it’s right on the line, but it could be a foot or more onto one side. Pull out the survey you received at closing and look for: the property boundary lines the fence location (sometimes marked, sometimes not) corner markers or measurements you can match to the fence If the fence sits fully on your side, it’s yours, even if your neighbor benefits from it. If it’s fully on their side, it’s theirs. If it’s directly on the boundary line, then it’s typically considered a shared fence and both of you would usually split responsibility. If your survey doesn’t clearly show the fence, or there’s any doubt, the only way to settle it cleanly is to have a surveyor mark the line.

The only way to know for sure where the property line is, is to have the property surveyed. You should do that anyway if you are thinking of putting up a new fence. You will want to know your property lines on all sides so that you do not encroach on other people's property. Unfortunately, the survey should have been done as part of your due diligence inspections before you closed on the home. Had it been done at that time, you could likely have negotiated that the owners who sold it to you, resolve this problem at their expense.

get your property surveyed. the property line will show where the fence can be put up. then speak with your neighbors and see if they will work with you on the fence.

It is owned by 1 person. It cant be owned by both. You can usually tell if the previous owner installed the fence by looking at the inside of the fencing vs the opposite side. I recommend that your realtor that helped you purchase, contact the listing agent and ask the seller who does the fence belong to

Hi Dominic, did you get a survey when you closed on your home? That will certainly tell you whose property the fence is on and you can go from there. Other than that, it's just your word against theirs and that does not lead to a solution.

This is a very common situation, especially in newer neighborhoods, and the key issue is not where the fence appears to be but where the actual property line is. The best way to confirm that is by reviewing your survey from closing or ordering a new one if needed. In many cases, fences are installed slightly inside a property line, which means that even if it looks shared, it may legally belong to one homeowner. If the fence is confirmed to sit directly on the property line, it is often considered a shared boundary fence and both parties may share responsibility, although local regulations or any homeowners association guidelines can also influence that. From a practical standpoint, since there is a dog involved and a clear need for the fence to function properly, this is a good opportunity to approach it collaboratively. Even when ownership falls on one side, many neighbors choose to split the cost because it benefits both properties. A smart next step would be to confirm the property line, check any local or association rules, and have a straightforward conversation focused on finding a solution that works for both sides, as that usually leads to the fastest resolution and helps maintain a good relationship with your neighbor.