{"id":372047,"date":"2017-11-14T12:50:56","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T17:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/property-line-and-fence-laws-in-colorado.html"},"modified":"2025-06-25T13:53:36","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T18:53:36","slug":"property-line-and-fence-laws-in-colorado","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/property-line-and-fence-laws-in-colorado.html","title":{"rendered":"Property Line and Fence Laws in Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Property Line and Fence Laws in Colorado<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Property line and fence laws in Colorado address encroachment, boundary lines, fence construction, and responsibilities between neighbors.<\/b><\/blockquote>\r\n

Fence and property line disputes cause more neighborhood issues than almost any other problem. A good fence only makes a good neighbor if it\u2019s on the neighbor\u2019s side of the property. Legal questions about where property lines begin and end and where the fence belongs fill courtrooms throughout Colorado.<\/p>\r\n

Property line surveys<\/a> aren’t guaranteed to resolve all the issues, but they can often help. A survey can tell you where the property boundary is, but may not answer who must pay for the fence. Whenever neighbors have a property line dispute or fence issue, a property survey is always the first step.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado\u2019s laws might not address the types of fence at issue in a residential dispute. Fence laws arose in Colorado\u2019s early cattle-ranching days and need updating. Neighbors may need help from municipal regulations and homeowner\u2019s associations to handle their fence line disputes.<\/p>\r\n

Rural and Residential Fences<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The Colorado Revised Statutes have two laws concerning fencing. These laws focus on agricultural or grazing land, not front lawns of private homeowners.<\/p>\r\n

Partition Fences<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

A partition fence separates two adjoining parcels of land, whether agricultural or grazing land. Colorado is a \u201cfence-out\u201d state, meaning landowners have the responsibility to fence livestock out of their property. Livestock owners are not required to fence in free-range animals on grazing land.<\/p>\r\n

Partition fences must be \u201clawful fences\u201d according to Colorado statutes<\/a>. A lawful fence is a \u201cwell-constructed\u201d barbed wire fence with:<\/p>\r\n