Livermore, CA Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- State Law
- Civil Code §841
- Cost Split
- 50/50 presumption
- Notice
- 30 days written
- Spite Fence
- Over 10 ft banned
- Rebuttal
- Unequal benefit/hardship
Summary
California Civil Code §841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) governs Livermore boundary fences. Costs presumed split equally; 30-day written notice required before construction.
841. (a) Adjoining landowners shall share equally in the responsibility for maintaining the boundaries and monuments between them. (b) (1) Adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit from any fence dividing their properties and, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties in a written agreement, shall be presumed to be equally responsible for the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement of the fence. (2) Where a landowner intends to incur costs for a fence described in paragraph (1), the landowner shall give 30 days' prior written notice to each affected adjoining landowner. The notice shall include notification of the presumption of equal responsibility for the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement of the fence. The notice shall include a description of the nature of the problem facing the shared fence, the proposed solution for addressing the problem, the estimated construction or maintenance costs involved to address the problem, the proposed cost sharing approach, and the proposed timeline for getting the problem addressed.
Full Breakdown
CA Civil Code §841, the Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013, creates a legal presumption that adjoining property owners share equally in reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, and replacement of boundary fences benefitting both properties. The statute requires 30 days' written notice before beginning work, including estimated costs, description, timeline, and proposed cost-sharing. Neighbors may rebut the equal-share presumption by showing unequal benefit or undue hardship. CA Civil Code §841.4 prohibits 'spite fences' over 10 feet built maliciously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my neighbor won't pay half?
What is a spite fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Livermore
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Neighbor Fence Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle neighbor fence rules.