Northern Missouri
Fence law decides who owns the boundary fence
In a livestock-and-crop county, Missouri's fence law allocates responsibility for boundary fences, which often surprises new rural landowners.
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 do not assume the fence is only your neighbor’s job. Learn 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. Confirm the details with your local office.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Grundy County. See every local note for the county on its page.