Cumberland County, ME Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Cumberland County does not regulate neighbor fence disputes. Maine state law provides two operative frameworks. First, the partition-fence statute (30-A MRS § 2951 et seq.) defines a 'legal fence' as at least 4 feet high in good repair, and allows either adjoining owner to call upon the town's elected or appointed fence viewers to apportion construction and maintenance costs equitably (30-A MRS § 2954 permits the complainant to recover 'double the value and fees' if the neighbor's portion is found deficient after notice). Second, 17 MRS § 2801 (Spite Fences) provides: 'any fence or other structure in the nature of a fence unnecessarily exceeding 6 feet in height, maliciously kept and maintained for the purpose of annoying the owners or occupants of adjoining property shall be deemed a private nuisance' — actionable in Superior Court for abatement and damages. 17 MRS § 2802 also classifies fences obstructing public ways, alleys, or commons as a nuisance. Boundary-line disputes are resolved under common-law adverse possession (20-year prescriptive period) and 14 MRS § 7551-B (treble damages for intentional trespass damaging fences/gates).