For a fence on a shared property line, Ann Arbor measures its maximum height from the highest grade within two feet of the lot line. The county sets no boundary-fence rule—your city or township does.
Ann Arbor's UDC Section 5.26(D) addresses fences separating two adjoining lots: when a fence runs within two feet of the lot line, its maximum height is measured from the highest grade within two feet on either side of that line. This prevents a neighbor on higher ground from gaining extra height. Ann Arbor's code does not assign cost-sharing or ownership of a division fence—those are private civil matters under Michigan common law. Washtenaw County does not regulate boundary fences; disputes over placement, maintenance, or cost between neighbors are resolved privately or in district court, not by the county.
A boundary fence exceeding the measured height limit violates the zoning code and may be ordered lowered; cost and ownership disputes are civil matters, not code enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Washtenaw County, MI
Washtenaw County has no dedicated hoarding ordinance, but Michigan's animal-cruelty law requires adequate care for every animal and escalates penalties sharp...
Washtenaw County, MI
Washtenaw County has no wildlife-feeding ordinance, but a statewide ban prohibits feeding and baiting deer and elk throughout the Lower Peninsula, which incl...
Washtenaw County, MI
Backyard composting is allowed in Ann Arbor, which also runs curbside compost and yard-waste collection. Grass clippings, leaves, and yard waste must not be ...
Washtenaw County, MI
Neither Washtenaw County nor Ann Arbor has a specific ordinance banning or permitting residential artificial turf. It is generally allowed, subject to standa...
Washtenaw County, MI
Washtenaw County and Ann Arbor allow and actively encourage native-plant and pollinator landscaping. The 12-inch turf-grass cap targets neglected lawns, not ...
Washtenaw County, MI
Rainwater harvesting is legal and unrestricted for homeowners in Washtenaw County and Michigan. Ann Arbor actively encourages rain barrels, rain gardens, and...
See how Washtenaw 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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.