Wayne County, MI Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Michigan Compiled Laws section 554.171, known as the Partition Fence Act, traditionally required adjoining landowners to share the cost of maintaining division fences, but courts have limited its application largely to agricultural contexts. In urban Wayne County, which encompasses Detroit and dozens of densely populated suburbs, neighbor fence disputes are typically resolved under local zoning ordinances and civil common law rather than the state fence statute. Boundary fences built on a property line generally belong to both owners, and most Wayne County municipalities require the finished (good) side of the fence to face outward toward the neighbor. Before building, property owners should confirm the exact property line with a licensed surveyor, since lot line disputes are a common source of litigation. Written agreements between neighbors about cost sharing and maintenance are strongly recommended. Wayne County's 36th District Court handles small claims fence disputes, and mediation is available through Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan affiliates serving southeast Michigan.