{"id":375585,"date":"2017-12-07T14:33:05","date_gmt":"2017-12-07T19:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/north-dakota-law\/property-line-and-fence-laws-in-north-dakota.html"},"modified":"2018-01-23T00:49:55","modified_gmt":"2018-01-23T05:49:55","slug":"property-line-and-fence-laws-in-north-dakota","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/north-dakota-law\/property-line-and-fence-laws-in-north-dakota.html","title":{"rendered":"Property Line and Fence Laws in North Dakota"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Property Line and Fence Laws in North Dakota<\/h1>\n
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Ideally, neighboring property owners live side by side in peace, but in reality that is often far from the case. Many issues can cause disagreements between next door neighbors, including fences and trees along the boundary line. For this reason, many states have passed laws governing these sorts of situations. Read on to learn more about fence and tree laws put in place by the state of North Dakota.<\/p>\n

North Dakota Property Line and Fence Laws<\/h2>\n

In North Dakota, the legislature has passed detailed laws addressing fences that run along boundary lines separating neighbors. These laws define landowners’ mutual responsibility for the building and maintenance of boundary fences. Like some other states, North Dakota law also recognizes "fence viewers," who are responsible for resolving disputes involving fences.<\/p>\n

Some states have specific laws outlawing "spite fences" built maliciously and for no other purpose than to annoy or harass your neighbor. North Dakota doesn’t have laws specifically addressing spite fences; however, the state legislature defines a "legal fence" and many North Dakota cities have building ordinances and codes that regulate the size and placement of fences.<\/p>\n

The following chart provides more information about North Dakota laws governing property lines, fences, and tree trimming.<\/p>\n\n

Statutes and Caselaw<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Boundary Fences<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Adjoining landowners are "mutually and equally bound" to maintain boundary fences.<\/li>\n
  • If one landowner chooses to erect a fence that exceeds the definition of a "legal fence" as defined by North Dakota law, that landowner must bear the entire cost of the fence.<\/li>\n
  • The law appoints members of the board of townships supervisors to act as "fence viewers" to resolve disputes.<\/li>\n
  • Boundary fences must be kept in good repair throughout the year, unless both property owners agree otherwise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Spite Fences<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • North Dakota law doesn’t specifically address "spite fences," but it does define a "legal fence" as four and on-half feet tall.<\/li>\n
  • Some North Dakota cities also have ordinances governing the construction of fences, which could prevent a neighbor from building a spite fence that exceeds a local ordinance or building code.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Tree Trimming<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n