Alabama Partition Fence and Boundary Statutes

Alabama Code Title 3 Chapter 4 establishes statewide rules for partition fences, particularly for livestock containment. Section 3-4-1 et seq. allow adjoining landowners to compel cost-sharing for boundary fences when one party benefits from confining livestock. Alabama follows the common-law fence-out rule modified by stock laws in most counties under Code Section 3-5-1 et seq., which require livestock owners to confine animals. Boundary disputes are governed by adverse possession (Code Section 6-5-200, requiring 10 years and color of title or 20 years without) and prescriptive easement common law applied statewide.

Failure to maintain a partition fence may shift liability for trespassing livestock damage. Refusal to share fence costs can result in civil judgment after court proceedings.