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1. Fence viewers; appointment; tenure
The mayor of each city, subject to confirmation by the city council, and the selectmen of
each town shall annually appoint two or more fence viewers, to hold office for one year
and until their successors are qualified.
2. Definition of fences
Fences four feet high, in good repair, constructed of rails, timber, boards, iron or
stone, and brooks, rivers, ponds, creeks, ditches and hedges, or other things which the
fence viewers consider equivalent thereto, shall be deemed legal and sufficient fences.
3. Maintenance of partition fences
The occupants of adjoining lands enclosed with fences shall, so long as both of them
improve the same, maintain partition fences in equal shares between their enclosures,
unless they otherwise agree.
4. Failure to maintain partition fence; proceedings by adjoining occupant
If a person refuses or neglects to repair or rebuild the part of a partition fence which
under this chapter he is required to maintain, any person aggrieved may complain to the
fence viewers, who, after notice to each party, shall view the fence; and if they
determine that it is insufficient and that a partition fence is required, they shall so
state in writing to the delinquent occupant, and direct him to repair or rebuild his part
within such time as the fence viewers may determine; and if the fence is not so repaired
or rebuilt, the complainant, after having repaired or rebuilt his part of said fence, may
repair or rebuild the part of such occupant.
5. Remedy for repair of deficient fence
If a deficient fence which has been built up or repaired by a complainant is, after due
notice to each party, adjudged sufficient by the fence viewers, and the value of the part
of the delinquent occupant, together with the fees of the fence viewers, has been
ascertained by a certificate under their hands, the complainant may demand either of the
owner or of the occupant of the land where the fence was deficient double the amount so
ascertained; and upon the neglect or refusal to pay the same for one month after demand,
he may recover the same, with interest at one per cent a month, in an action of contract.
6. Disputes regarding repairs; arbitration
When a dispute arises concerning the part of a partition fence which under this chapter
each party is required to build or maintain, either party may apply to the fence viewers,
who, after notice to each party and a hearing, may in writing assign to each his share
thereof, and may direct the time within which each party shall erect or repair his share;
which assignment, being recorded in the office of the city or town clerk upon the payment
by the party so applying of the fee provided by clause (33) of section thirty-four of
chapter two hundred and sixty-two, shall be binding upon the parties and upon the
succeeding occupants of the land
7. Remedy for repair of deficient fence assigned by fence viewers
If a person refuses or neglects to erect and maintain the part of a fence assigned to him
by the fence viewers, it may be erected and maintained by the adjoining occupant, and if
adjudged sufficient by the fence viewers, he shall be entitled to double the value
thereof, which shall be ascertained and recovered in the manner aforesaid.
8. Remedy for repairing more than just share of partition fence
If a partition fence is required under this chapter between the lands of adjoining
occupants, and either of them has, before complaint made, voluntarily erected the whole
fence or more than his just share thereof, or has otherwise become proprietor thereof, the
fence viewers may order the other occupant to pay the value of so much thereof as may be
assigned to him to repair or maintain
9. Construction and maintenance of fences between lands divided by a river
If lands of different persons, required under this chapter to be fenced, are divided by a
river, brook, pond or creek, and one of the occupants refuses or neglects to join in
making a partition fence, or they disagree respecting the same, the fence viewers shall,
upon application, forthwith view such river, brook, pond or creek; and if they determine
that it is not sufficient as a fence, that it is impracticable to fence on the true
boundary line without unreasonable expense, and that a partition fence is required, they
shall, after notice to the parties, determine how or on which side the fence shall be set
up and maintained, or whether partly on the one side and partly on the other, as to them
may appear just, and shall reduce their determination to writing; and if either party
refuses or neglects to make and maintain his part of the fence according to such
determination, it may be made and maintained as before provided, and the delinquent party
shall be subject to the same costs and charges, and they shall be recovered in like
manner.
10. Fences on lands owned in severalty and occupied in common; construction
If land belonging to two persons in severalty has been occupied in common without a
partition fence, and one of the occupants desires to occupy his part in severalty, and
both occupants are in possession of beasts which would be restrained by the erection of a
fence dividing the parts of each occupant, and the other occupant refuses or neglects on
demand to divide the line where the fence ought to be built, or to build a sufficient
fence on his part of the line when divided, the party desiring it may have the same
divided and assigned by the fence viewers in the manner provided in this chapter; and the
fence viewers may in writing assign a reasonable time, having regard to the season, for
making the fence; and if the occupant complained of does not make his part of the fence
within the time so assigned, the other party may, after having made up his part of the
fence, make up the part of such occupant, and recover therefor double the sum total of the
expense thereof and fees, as provided in section five.
11. Maintenance of fences surrounding land laying common
If a division of fence between the owners of improved land has been made either by fence
viewers or under an agreement in writing between the parties which has been recorded in
the office of the clerk of the town, the several occupants of such land and their heirs
and assigns shall erect and maintain said fences agreeably to such division; but if a
person lays his land common and determines not to improve any part adjoining the fence so
divided, and gives six months' notice of his determination to all the occupants of
adjoining land, he shall not be required to keep up or maintain said fence during the time
that his land lies common and unimproved.
12. Purchase of rights in fence
If one person ceases to improve his land or lays open his enclosure, he shall not take
away any part of the partition fence belonging to him and adjoining the next enclosure if
the occupant or owner pays the reasonable value thereof, as determined in writing by the
fence viewers.
13. Enclosing of formerly unenclosed land; liability of owner; exception
If unenclosed land is afterward enclosed or used for depasturing, the occupant or owner
shall pay for one half of each partition fence standing upon the line between it and the
enclosed land of any other occupant or owner, the value thereof, as determined in writing
by the fence viewers; and if thereupon such occupant or owner neglects or refuses, for
thirty days after demand, to pay one half of the value, the proprietor thereof may
maintain an action of contract therefor and for the costs of ascertaining the same; but
the occupant or owner of unenclosed land on the island of Nantucket used only for
depasturing shall not be subject to this section.
14. Boundary disputes
If the division line between lands of respective occupants is in dispute or unknown, the
fence viewers may designate a line on which the fence shall be built, and may employ a
surveyor therefor; and such line shall, for the purpose of maintaining a fence, be deemed
the division line between such lands until it is determined that the true line is in
another place, and until so determined all laws relative to the erection, maintenance and
protection of fences shall be applicable to the fence erected or to be erected on such
line.
15. Rebuilding of fence on true boundary; duties of adjoining owners
If it is determined that the true division line is in another place, each occupant shall
remove his part of the fence to, and rebuild the same on such line; and in case of neglect
or refusal by either to remove and rebuild his share thereof, the other may apply to the
fence viewers, who shall view the premises and assign a time within which the fence shall
be removed and rebuilt, and shall give the delinquent party notice thereof; and if such
party does not remove and rebuild the fence within the time so assigned, the other party
may remove and rebuild the same and recover double the expense thereof, with the fees of
the fence viewers, to be ascertained and recovered in the manner provided in section five.
16. Fence viewers; jurisdiction where fence is on town boundary
If the line upon which a partition fence is to be made or divided is a boundary line of a
town or is partly in one and partly in another town, a fence viewer shall be taken from
each place.
17. Water fences
A water fence, or fence running into the water, shall, unless otherwise agreed by the
parties, be built by them in equal shares; and they shall have like remedies as in case of
partition fences.
18. Fence viewers; powers
Fence viewers, when called upon to act under any section of this chapter, may determine
whether a partition fence is required.
19. Penalty for misfeasance
A fence viewer who, when requested, unreasonably neglects to perform any duty required of
him in this chapter shall forfeit five dollars to be recovered in tort to the use of the
town, or on complaint to the use of the commonwealth, and shall also be liable for all
damages to the party injured
20. Fees
Each fence viewer shall be paid at the rate of five dollars a day for the time during
which he is employed, but his fee for services in any one case shall not be less than one
dollar. Such payment shall be made by all or by such of the parties in dispute, and in
such proportions, as shall be determined by a certificate in writing under the hands of
the fence viewers acting in each case. If any person required to pay the whole or any
portion of said fees neglects to pay the fence viewers within thirty days after the
certificate has been delivered, they may recover in tort double the amount of the fees due
from such delinquent person.
118. Domestic animals; trespass on land
Whoever, having the charge or custody of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, swine or
fowl, wilfully suffers or permits them to enter or remain on or pass over any orchard,
garden, mowing land or other improved or enclosed land of another, after being forbidden
so to do in writing or by notice posted thereon by the owner or occupant thereof, or by
the authorized agent of such owner or occupant, shall be punished by a fine of not more
than ten dollars.
Reviewed by AAHS in December 2001.