Maine Neighbor Fence Rules Law: Statewide Fence Regulations Rules (2026)

Key Facts

Statute: 30-A M.R.S. §§ 2951-2960
Officials: Town fence viewers
Cost share: Equal between adjoining owners
Penalty for refusal: Double repair cost
Coverage: Statewide, all municipalities

Full Breakdown

Title 30-A M.R.S. §§ 2951-2960 codifies Maine's partition fence law, one of the oldest in the United States. When two owners enclose adjoining land, each must build and maintain a just and equal share of the dividing fence. Each Maine municipality must annually appoint at least two fence viewers (30-A M.R.S. § 2952) who, on written request, inspect a disputed fence, decide each owner's share, and may order repairs. A neighbor who refuses to maintain their share after notice can be charged double the actual repair cost. The statute applies statewide and overrides conflicting local cost-allocation rules.

Violations & Penalties

Refusal to maintain a partition fence after fence-viewer order: liable for double the cost of repair plus reasonable fence-viewer fees recoverable in District Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who decides how to split fence costs between Maine neighbors who disagree?

Town-appointed fence viewers inspect the line, determine each owner's just and equal share under 30-A M.R.S. § 2953, and issue a written decision enforceable in District Court.

What happens if a neighbor refuses to repair their portion of the fence?

After fence viewers issue a notice, the complying owner may make repairs and recover double the actual cost from the refusing neighbor under 30-A M.R.S. § 2957.

Maine Partition Fence Law for Neighboring Lots