If you’re considering adding a fence to your yard, you need to carefully consider where you’re placing your fence. Building a fence too close to your property line can land you in trouble with your homeowners association (HOA), your neighbor, and even, in some cases, your local government, depending on where you live.
If you’re planning to build your fence inside of your property line, you don’t need legal permission to get started planning your addition. However, you do need to make sure that you’re not violating local property laws or HOA rules about fencing placement. Some jurisdictions have regulations that dictate how far your fence must be from your property line. In some areas, you can build your fence on top of your property line, while in others, you may need to build up to 8 inches away from the line. Check your local laws or HOA restrictions to learn more about the specific rules you need to follow.
What if you want to build your fence on your property line? Just because your area legally allows fencing to be on your property line doesn’t mean you won’t run into any problems. If your fence is built on your property line, you and your neighbor must share the costs of installation, repair, maintenance, and upkeep. While this can be a huge benefit if your neighbor is excited about your fencing project, it can land you in the middle of an expensive legal dispute if your neighbor doesn’t want to pay for the fencing.
It’s always a good idea to get a property survey before you install any type of fence. A survey will tell you exactly where your property lines fall and will help you ensure that you’re within your area’s required buffer. It’s also a good idea to practice respectful fence etiquette and discuss your plans with your neighbors ahead of time.
At Greenhill Fencing, we’re happy to answer all of your fence-related questions. Give us a call today at 267-329-3005 to learn more!