Virginia has no shared fence cost statute. Each Richmond property owner is responsible for fences on their own property. Neighbors are not legally required to share costs of a boundary fence.
Unlike California or Texas, Virginia has no Good Neighbor Fence Act. Under Virginia common law (Dillon Rule), each property owner is responsible for fences on their own lot and cannot compel a neighbor to share costs. Fences must be built entirely on the owner side of the property line unless both neighbors agree in writing. A survey is recommended before construction; disputes over boundary lines are resolved in Richmond General District Court (for amounts under 25,000 dollars) or Circuit Court. The finished side of a fence should face outward (toward the neighbor) per Richmond design custom, though this is not a legal requirement.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Richmond, VA
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Richmond, VA
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See how Richmond's neighbor fence rules rules stack up against other locations.
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