By topic
Fence laws by topic
A fence rule usually turns on one of ten questions, and the answer to one does not settle another. Each page below compares that one question across every state, so the pattern is visible rather than buried in fifty separate pages.
The ten topics
| Question | Topic | States with a rule | Checked, none found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns the fence between two properties? | Fences on the property line | 39 of 51 | 9 |
| How tall can a fence be? | Fence height | 1 of 51 | 50 |
| Do I need a permit for a fence? | Permits | 49 of 51 | 2 |
| Pool fence requirements by state | Pool barriers | 39 of 51 | 12 |
| Spite fence laws by state | Spite fences | 12 of 51 | 37 |
| How fence height is measured | How height is measured | 43 of 51 | 8 |
| Fence rules for corner lots | Corner visibility | 47 of 51 | 2 |
| Retaining wall rules by state | Retaining walls | 50 of 51 | 1 |
| Fence materials allowed by state | Materials | 47 of 51 | 4 |
| Livestock and lawful fence laws by state | Agricultural fencing | 50 of 51 | none |
Why so many say nothing
Five of these ten are set by city and county ordinance in almost every state. Height, measurement, corner visibility, retaining walls and materials are local questions nearly everywhere, and a page saying so with the documents that were checked is more useful than one that invents a national figure.
The other five are where states legislate: who pays for a fence on the line, whether a spite fence is actionable, pool barriers, permits, and livestock. Browse by state ยท How findings are made