Who owns a shared fence?

Dear Angie: The fence that encloses my back yard is shared with three other neighbors and is in bad shape. With a shared fence, are maintenance or replacement costs typically also shared?

– Steven O., Vallejo, Calif.

Dear Steven: Fences are one of those issues that can come between neighbors. Ownership almost always depends on the property line and on which side of that line the fence stands.

You may be surprised to learn that a fence you consider as partly yours, is, in fact, not owned by you at all.

WHY A LAND SURVEY MATTERS

This is yet another reason why having your land surveyed is so important. Definitive ownership of trees and fences depends on accurate surveys.

Even so, it’s common for homeowners to share a fence because many times the structure is built directly on the property line and more than one owner shares use. Homebuilders often place a fence on a property line when putting houses beside each other.

OWNERS SHOULD SPLIT COSTS

If ownership of a shared fence is established, maintenance and repair expenses should be split equally among the owners. In case of storm damage, insurance companies are accustomed to dividing repair costs among multiple owners.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 8:54 AM with the headline "Who owns a shared fence?."