Fence law decides who owns the boundary fence

A boundary fence is the fence that runs along the line between two properties. In Missouri, fence law sets who has to help pay for and keep up that fence. The rules can change depending on which legal option your county uses. Missouri has a general (statewide) option and a local option that a county can vote to adopt. This matters in a place like Grundy County, where people raise livestock and grow crops. If you are new to rural land, you may have to share the cost and upkeep of a line fence with your neighbor. A sagging or unfixed fence is a common cause of arguments between neighbors. So the fence is often not only your neighbor’s job, which makes it worth learning how the rules work where you live. University of Missouri Extension has easy-to-read guides on the general and local options, and the full rules are in Missouri law through the Revisor of Statutes. Your local office can confirm the details.