Fenceline Location

[pointer_hunter]

I will be spending this winter clearing out the property line so that I can put an exterior fence up. I'm wondering if I should just put the fence right on the line to give my animals all the space they can have to graze on, or should I bring the fence in about 10 feet so that I can maintain the outside to keep brush from growing back up on the fence?

Any thoughts?

[poischis]

5 feet should be more than enough, in my opinion

[LibertyWool]

I would check my local laws. In some areas, if you put the fence on the line, you own 1/2 the fence and your neighbour owns 1/2 the fence. Where I live, if I move it in 10 feet, then I own the fence. Just something to think about.

[francismilker]

ON THE LINE! Just my opinion here. In some states, after so many years the fenceline can become the assumed boundary. After a certain time, (especially if you're the one that builds the fence) the neighboring owner can begin to use that fence as his or her property line. If you're wanting to move it in so you can maintain/spray/mow both sides of the fence then put some kind of makeshift fence directly on the line to keep the property line established.

Besides, since you're paying the taxes on the land you might as well graze it.

[genebo]

Francismilker told it right!

Lots of places have the law that says that customary use over a long time constitutes ownership. Leaving some of your property outside your fence could amount to giving it away.

Out in the country, boundaries are not as well defined as in the city. Trees, rocks and even fence lines and roads define property lines.

Put your fence on the line as accurately as possible. Then ask your neighbor for permission to maintain it from his side if the necessity arises. More than likely, it won't. You can usually fix a fence from your own side.

[Cheryl aka JM]

on the line.
When I purchased and moved in here, on the far side of the property there were two fences ten feet apart. I wasn't even real sure if the fence on my side was on the line or if the neighbors fence was on the line or neither fence was. So I asked the neighbor. Turns out the previous owner of my house was a bit of a jerk, and when the nieghbor built his fence on the property line the owner of this property chose to build his own fence ten feet inside the fence line rather than be forced to communicate and be freindly with the neighbor. There was a lot more to it than just a fence, but it's none of my business. It resulted in a grown over sloppy mess between the two propertys that was almost impossible to get into and do repairs that had become needed on my side. My very nice neighbor offered to help me take down my fence since his fence was on the line and now we both share his fence and the maintenance on his fence. All good and it keeps us needing to occasionally communicate and gives an excuse to call and check on the neighbors every once in a while.

[Lazy J]

Put that fence right on the property line!!!

[RosewoodfarmVA]

Right on the line, the neighbors will use that 10ft strip for 4wheeling, hunting etc like it's theirs...

[myersfarm]

if they take care of it in Missouri before you do and can prove it in 10 years that becomes the border......so Right on the line

[pointer_hunter]

Thanks for all the feedback. I thought about putting it on the line but wasn't sure if I needed to keep it back or not for maintenance. I have a large drainage ditch that seperates property on the east, an open field to the south and the neighbor to the west is from the big city and only come up for hunting. They select cut the property and had the line staked out. It shouldn't be too hard to put it right up on the line.

[francismilker]

Even if you were to have to pay big money to have it surveyed it would be worth it to at the very least put some heavy guaged still posts on each corner to establish your known borders now. The old saying "good fences make good neighbors" is absolutely true. Besides, if there is a problem with neighbors you might as well fight the fight now to keep your kids and their kids from fighting about it a generation from now.

On the setting metal posts for corners suggestion, make sure you do it as soon as the surveryor leaves.(and concrete them in) My uncle was a sherriff for 40 years and tells lots of stories about some ol' geezer watching from the bushes and moving the stake and pin as soon as the surveyor leaves the area. There are a lot of "established" property lines using whatever was practical by our grandparents years ago when those folks were neighborly and bartered usage back and forth with agreements like, "If you'll let me use that small strip of your ground on this side of the creek I'll let you use that north part of the river bottom on your side of the creek." In this day and time when we have more mechanical and financial means of surveying and building fencelines it's just good practice to do it right when you do it.

[Hexe]

Coming from a similar problem I can say that this thread is about two different problems:

A) maintaining pasture fencing: I like to maintain a strip between pasture and brush to keep brush from crushing the fence, from livestock crushing the fence to get to brush, etc.

B) maintaining property lines: keep property lines marked and maintained.

You can do both. Set your pasture fence where it is best for maximum grazing potential and maintenance potencial. IF you HAVE to set it inward from the property line, make sure you mark/stake/(minimaly) fence the property line and MAINTAIN property line to be clearly visible at all times. It's not that hard to do.

Having your property surveyed and properly marked by a surveyor will pay for itself in the future.

Both (fencing property line vs. fencing pasture and maintaining property line) will have advantages and disadvantages. Research what's best for you.

Good Luck!

[SCRancher]

I had my property surveyed when I bought it and gained 1.4 acres - I then built my fence right on the line.

I don't think it's a big deal to step over the fence and work on it if I need.