Homeowner Responsibilities for 5/4/19
Photo/article by Patricia Feager
There is something about good fences that sends a powerful message about protection, barriers, boundaries, limits, and respect for other people's property. A fence in disarray or repair can spell trouble, including liability. Maintaining a fence is an owner's responsibility and others should respect their neighbor's fence including their property.
Fencing materials can include wood, steel posts, wire, stone, wrought iron, chain link fence, metal, or a variety of materials that can be used per a local ordinance, a Property Owner's Association, or if there are no ordinances at the discretion of the property owner. When animals are involved special care needs to be taken into consideration to protect the animals with barriers of the right material. Fences are often a necessity and expensive.
Trespassing rules apply but will usually grant rights to utility companies for access. Maintenance should be taken seriously because a fence never mends on its own. When purchasing a home, find out what is required to maintain a fence, including whether permits are required per planning and zoning.
A fence that surrounds a property may or may not be architecturally beautiful. They are also impacted by insects, wildlife, rain, snow, sleet, ice, wind, and heat. A fence that is broken or falling down is not something to ignore and the owner assumes the risk for anyone getting hurt due to negligence. It's a good idea for a homeowner to check to see what type of insurance is available in case of natural disasters or accidents.
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