New Orleans, LA Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Louisiana Civil Code Articles 673 through 688 address servitudes of common enclosure and boundary walls. Under Article 673 and following, a wall, fence, or other enclosure separating two estates and built on the boundary line is presumed to be common property of the adjoining owners, meaning both share ownership and the obligation to maintain it in proportion to their interest. If one neighbor builds a wall entirely on their own property, it remains theirs alone unless the adjoining owner later contributes and acquires an interest. Either co-owner of a common wall may use it but cannot make alterations that injure the other or weaken the wall. Repairs and reconstruction of a common wall are typically shared in proportion to use or interest, and a neighbor who refuses to contribute to necessary repairs may face civil action. A neighbor who wishes to make a previously private wall common must compensate the original builder for half the value of the wall and the underlying land. Heights of common walls follow local zoning, and one co-owner cannot unilaterally raise the wall above the ordinance limit. Disputes over boundary location should be resolved through a licensed surveyor and, if needed, a boundary action under Articles 784 through 796. Practical advice for New Orleans homeowners: confirm the precise property line by survey before constructing or replacing a fence, document any agreement with neighbors in writing, and understand that a boundary fence is rarely the sole property of one owner under Louisiana civil law.