Minnesota Statewide Rule
Minnesota Partition Fence Rules Under Statute 344
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Minn. Stat. chapter 344
- Cost split
- Equal shares between neighbors
- Applies when
- Both lands raise livestock
- Fence viewers
- Town supervisors, city council members
- Enforcement
- Recover repair costs from neighbor
Summary
Minnesota's partition fence law, Minn. Stat. chapter 344, makes adjoining landowners build and maintain a boundary fence in equal shares when both parcels raise livestock and one owner wants fencing. Town supervisors and city council members serve as fence viewers to settle disputes.
if two adjoining lands are both used in whole or in part to produce or maintain livestock for agricultural or commercial purposes and one or both of the owners of the land desires the land to be partly or totally fenced ... the land owners or occupants shall build and maintain a partition fence between their lands in equal shares.
Full Breakdown
Under Minn. Stat. § 344.03, subd. 1, if two neighboring parcels both produce or maintain livestock and one owner wants fencing, both owners must build and maintain the partition fence in equal shares. Section 344.01 names town supervisors, city council members, commissioners of public works, and city trustees as fence viewers. When neighbors disagree over who builds what, § 344.06 lets the fence viewers inspect the line and issue a binding decision assigning each side's portion. A neighbor who neglects an assigned share can be compelled to pay for it under §§ 344.04 and 344.05.
Violations & Penalties
If a neighbor neglects their assigned share, you may build or repair that portion and recover the cost from them, as certified by the fence viewers, under Minn. Stat. §§ 344.04 and 344.05.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Minnesota require me to split a fence cost with my neighbor?
Who settles a fence-line dispute in Minnesota?
Sources
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