Oregon Statewide Rule

Oregon Partition Fence and Livestock Fence Law

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Oregon (2026)

Oregon's partition fence statutes (ORS Chapter 96) impose statewide rules requiring adjoining landowners to share costs of livestock fencing in livestock districts. The law applies uniformly and preempts inconsistent local cost-sharing rules between neighbors.

Key Facts

Statute: ORS Chapter 96
Cost share: 50/50 split
Applies in: Livestock districts
Open range: Fence out duty

Source: Oregon Public Law

Full Breakdown

ORS 96.010 through 96.060 establish that adjoining landowners in designated livestock districts must equally maintain partition fences sufficient to restrain livestock. If one neighbor refuses, the other can build the fence and recover half the cost through county court action under ORS 96.040. The Oregon livestock district law (ORS 607) determines where these rules apply by county vote. Outside livestock districts, the open-range tradition shifts the duty to fence livestock out, not in. ORS 105.880-105.890 governs damages from shared boundary trees; ORS 105.682 limits landowner liability for recreational use across fenced lands.

Violations & Penalties

Failure to contribute to lawful partition fence allows neighbor to recover half the cost plus court costs under ORS 96.040.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must my neighbor pay half my fence cost in Oregon?

Only in designated livestock districts under ORS 96.020 and only for fences sufficient to restrain livestock. In urban areas and open range, no statewide cost-share duty exists.

What if my neighbor refuses to maintain a partition fence?

File a petition with the county court under ORS 96.040. After viewers assess the fence, you can build or repair it and recover half the cost from the refusing neighbor.

Sources

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Oregon Partition Fence and Livestock Fence Law

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Oregon (2026)

Full Breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

Must my neighbor pay half my fence cost in Oregon?

Only in designated livestock districts under ORS 96.020 and only for fences sufficient to restrain livestock. In urban areas and open range, no statewide cost-share duty exists.

What if my neighbor refuses to maintain a partition fence?

File a petition with the county court under ORS 96.040. After viewers assess the fence, you can build or repair it and recover half the cost from the refusing neighbor.