Ohio Revised Code Chapter 971 governs partition fences between adjoining rural property owners, applying universally to establish responsibilities for shared boundary fences.
ORC Chapter 971, the Line Fence Law, applies statewide to properties used for agriculture in unincorporated areas. Adjoining owners share responsibility for partition fences, with disputes resolved by township trustees. Either owner may petition trustees to assign maintenance responsibility, typically split equally. The law does not apply within municipal corporations, where local fence ordinances govern. Owners must give 28 days written notice before requesting trustee intervention. Trustees may order construction, repair, or apportion costs, and can place liens for unpaid shares on the tax duplicate.
Failure to maintain assigned share allows neighbor or trustees to perform work and recover costs as tax lien.
See how Sunbury's neighbor fence rules rules stack up against other locations.
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