The Fence On The Line
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 272.060 — written notice, then each owner builds the part on their right
In Missouri, an owner who wants to build or repair a lawful division fence gives the adjoining owner written notice. Each owner builds or repairs the portion of the fence that is on their right as they face the fence line standing at the center of the common line on their own land.
If they cannot agree. Either may apply to an associate circuit judge, who summons three disinterested householders as viewers, giving each party three days' notice. The viewers, under oath, designate each party's portion and notify them in writing.
Other arrangements. An existing agreement that differs from this procedure is in writing, signed, and recorded with the recorder of deeds in the county where the fence line is.
Where the line actually runs is a boundary question this page does not answer. Whether a particular fence must be shared, and what either neighbor can recover, are questions for a licensed Missouri attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 272.060 — Division fences; rights of parties, how determined
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.