California Civil Code 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) presumes equal cost-sharing for boundary fences. 30-day written notice is required before building or repairing a shared fence.
Civil Code 841 applies across Sacramento County and presumes that adjoining landowners share equally in the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, and replacement of a boundary fence. A neighbor seeking contribution must provide 30-day written notice stating the problem, proposed solution, estimated cost, and proposed timeline. Civil Code 841.4 separately prohibits spite fences over 10 feet built maliciously. Boundary disputes (encroachment) are handled civilly; the County does not adjudicate property lines. A recent Lucido survey is strongly recommended.
Civil action in Superior Court; possible forced cost contribution or removal of spite fence.
See how Sacramento County's neighbor fence rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.