On a city lot in Minnesota, your neighbor pays for half only if the two of you agree. Minnesota Statutes chapter 344, the partition fence law, says adjoining owners build and maintain a partition fence in equal shares when the land is improved and used and one of them wants it fenced (section 344.03). That law was written for farm land. Section 344.011 lets a city council exempt adjoining lots that total less than 20 acres.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute, talk to your city or to a lawyer.
Does my neighbor have to pay for half of a new fence?
Do not assume they have to pay for half. Chapter 344 describes livestock fences and is carried out by local fence viewers. It is not something a fence company can enforce. If you believe it applies to your lot, ask your city or a lawyer whether it does. In practice, shared fences in Saint Paul are split by handshake and a written note.
Who owns the fence between two properties?
Who owns the fence follows the land. A fence that stands wholly on one lot belongs to that owner. A fence placed on the line by agreement is shared. If no one knows, a survey will show which side of the line the posts are on.
Can my neighbor put up a fence without asking me?
Yes. A neighbor can build on their own land without anyone's consent, as long as the fence has its permit and follows the city's height and location rules. The same goes for you.
A survey shows the fence is on the wrong side of the line. Now what?
When a survey shows the fence on the wrong side of the line, start with a calm talk and a copy of the survey. The usual outcomes are moving the fence or signing an agreement that lets it stay. Old fence lines can raise legal questions, so see a real estate lawyer before signing anything. We can move the fence once it is decided.
The contractor built my new fence over the property line. Who fixes it?
The answer turns on who set the layout. A contractor who chose the line with no survey, or ignored the stakes, should move it at their cost, and you should ask in writing. If the owner showed the contractor where to build, the owner usually carries it. A good quote states who located the line.
My neighbor and I agreed to split a new fence. How does the billing work?
Put the deal on paper first: the location, the material, the height, the total and each share. We can write the quote with the shared run on its own lines and send each owner a copy.
The house next door is a rental and I cannot reach the owner. Can I build on my side?
Yes. If you cannot reach the owner, you can still build on your own land. No neighbor signature is needed for that. Have the line staked by a surveyor so the placement is not open to question later.
The old fence on our side is rotted and the neighbor will not pay. Can I take it down and rebuild?
When the neighbor will not pay, check whose fence it is. On your land, it is yours to remove and rebuild at your cost. On the line and used by both, give written notice before taking it down and keep a copy.
My neighbor's tree roots are lifting our fence. Who handles that?
When tree roots are lifting a fence, an arborist looks at the tree and we deal with the fence. Do not cut big roots without advice, since that can kill or weaken the tree. Often we move a post a foot or two and bridge over the root.
A business next door stacks material against my chain link fence and it is bending. Can it be reinforced?
When a business stacks material against a fence, we can add heavier posts, a bottom rail or a tension wire, and that helps. It will not turn chain link into a wall. Ask the business in writing to keep its material off the fence. If that fails, the city's complaint line is the next step.
The only firm number is a written quote for your own yard, and the estimate is free. Call (651) 362-2183 or text us a photo of the fence line.