One example of this is California's Good Neighbor Fence Law. "It's said that 'good fences make good neighbors'. For example, California Civil Code 841, also known as the Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013, provides extensive protocol on paying for and maintaining boundary fences, including: "Where a landowner intends to incur costs for a fence, the landowner shall give 30-days prior written notice to each affected adjoining landowner." Typically, property disputes involving fences are near the top of the list of heavily litigated cases. Fences may make good neighbors, but knowing the law can make things easier / If a friendly talk can't resolve the issue, try mediation; litigation should be the last resort Judy Richter , … Typically, normal fences will have the presentable side with boards facing outwards, with the posts and stringers facing in towards the yard. Instead of having a fence where one neighbor gets the “ugly” side and the other neighbor gets the “pretty” side, this type of fence is built so that both neighbors have the “pretty” side. A good neighbor fence is a fence that is shared between two houses. Either way, a disgruntled neighbor can file a lawsuit over a spite fence. Whatever you do, it is always good etiquette to speak to your neighbor first. Now in a newly updated and expanded ninth edition, "Neighbor Law: Fences, Trees, Boundaries & Noise" by attorneys Emily Doskow and Lina Guillen will help the non-specialist general reader to avoid neighborly nuisances from … Neighbor Dispute #1: Boundary and Fence Issues With Neighbors You can take 20% off of Neighbor Law with COUPON CODE: “BOW” in our bookshop. https://www.youngalfred.com/homeowners-insurance/good-neighbor-fence-laws But, a good neighbor fence is built differently and looks identical on both sides. It requires 30 days' advance written notice, along with details about the proposed building, maintenance cost, timeline, and design. Local laws regulate much about the structure of a fence, but what about the aesthetics? An issue that often comes up between neighbors is whether there has been an encroachment of the legal boundary lines by an adjoining owner. Yes, fence etiquette is a thing, and it is crucial to avoiding disputes with your neighbors, legal or not. Though it is common practice, no law mandates your neighbor get the good side of the fence, though your local city might. Any expenses associated with the fence are shared 50/50. Fence Laws in Colorado. The 2014 law, like the 1870s law, operates on the presumption that neighbors benefit equally from a common fence, and that the cost for building or fixing a common fence should be shared equally even if the fence is on the neighbor’s property. But the 2014 law doesn’t stop there. This can include a manmade fence or a tall row of bushes or trees. What exactly is a good neighbor fence? A Note on “Spite Fences” Fence disputes are so common that there is a legal phrase that addresses those eye-sore, taller-than-necessary fences constructed just to annoy the other neighbor: Spite Fences. A good source to learn more about dealing with neighbors is Neighbor Law: Fences, Trees, Boundaries & Noise.