Macomb County, MI Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- MCL 43.51 et seq.
- Who pays to build
- The owner who builds it
- Fence viewer fee
- $25 per day
- County shared-fence rule
- None
Summary
Macomb County has no shared-fence ordinance. Boundary fences fall under Michigan's statewide Fences and Fence Viewers Act (MCL 43.51 et seq.), and any location or nuisance rules are set by your township, city, or village.
(1) The owner of real property who constructs a fence shall pay for the construction and maintenance of that fence. (2) If an adjoining property owner... uses or begins to use the fence for purposes of restraining or containing animals [they] shall compensate the owner... for the adjoining property owner's proportionate share of the current value of the fence.
Full Breakdown
Macomb County does not regulate private boundary fences. Cost and maintenance of a partition fence are governed by Michigan's statewide Fences and Fence Viewers Act, Act 34 of 1978 (MCL 43.51 et seq.). Under MCL 43.53, the owner who builds a fence pays for its construction and maintenance; if an adjoining owner or tenant later uses that fence to contain animals, they must compensate the builder for their proportionate share of the fence's current value, or build their own. MCL 43.54 directs each township to appoint a fence viewer who, for a $25 fee, can determine cost-sharing percentages. Physical placement rules, such as which yard a fence may occupy, are set by your municipality, not the county.
Violations & Fines
A disputed cost share is decided by a township-appointed fence viewer; an unpaid share may become a lien collected like taxes under MCL 43.58. Boundary-location disputes are settled in court, not by the fence viewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my neighbor have to split the cost of a fence?
Who resolves a fence-line dispute in Macomb County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Macomb County
Compare Macomb County to another location·View the Michigan fence regulations overview
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