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Fence Viewers

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Municipality of West Perth
169 St. David St.,
Mitchell, Ontario
N0K 1N0

T. 519-348-8429
E-mail the Municipality of West Perth
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Fence

The Line Fences Act is a procedure to resolve line fence disputes between the owners of adjoining properties. The Act does NOT deal with disputes about fences that are not on the boundary line or disputes about where a boundary line is. Owners of adjoining properties who are unable to reach an agreement about a line fence may apply to the municipality to have the dispute arbitrated by three Fence Viewers who are appointed by Municipal Council.

Fence viewers do not determine the location of a boundary line.

When the Line Fences Act applies

The Line Fences Act applies when there is a disagreement between two neighbours on:

which owner is responsible for the line fence work; and
the type of line fence to be built or repaired

It only applies when:

no fence exists, and one owner wants a fence constructed to mark the boundary; or
a line fence already exists, and one owner feels it needs to be reconstructed or repaired.

When the Line Fences Act does not apply

Fence-Viewers do not deal with disputes:

over the location of the property boundary,
where the fence or proposed fence is not on the boundary line,
where construction or repair of the fence has commenced or is complete,
where the adjoining property is a municipal or provincial highway.

Application

Property owners are encouraged to work with their neighbour towards a solution without involving the Fence Viewers.

If a solution can not be found, you will submit a Form 1 – Request for Fence Viewers.

View the Guide to Line Fences Act for further details.

Fees

There is a $100.00 administration fee for the property owners involved in the dispute. Fence-Viewers determine how the fee is divided between the property owners.