Ohio's line-fence law (ORC Ch. 971) governs partition fences between rural neighbors. It requires livestock owners to build a preferred partition fence and lets township trustees equitably split construction and upkeep costs. The law does not apply to city lots or platted subdivisions.
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 971 is the state partition-fence statute. Under ORC 971.02, adjoining rural properties where livestock is kept must be enclosed by a preferred partition fence. When neighbors disagree, ORC 971.09 lets the board of township trustees equitably assign each owner's share of the cost. Crucially, ORC 971.03 exempts lots inside municipal corporations and platted subdivisions, so most Toledo, Maumee, and suburban homeowners rely instead on local zoning and their own agreements. ORC 971.17 requires 28 days' written notice before removing a shared fence.
A neighbor who fails to pay an equitably-assigned share may be sued for costs under ORC 971.09; the township can perform work and place the charge on the tax duplicate.
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