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Who pays for a shared boundary fence?

When a fence sits on the boundary between two properties, both owners usually have a say and a share in the cost. In NSW that is governed by the Dividing Fences Act 1991.

The default: split it equally

Neighbours generally contribute in equal proportions to a "sufficient dividing fence", broadly, a standard fence that does the job (often taken to mean a plain timber paling fence). If one owner wants something higher, fancier or more expensive than that standard, they usually pay the difference themselves.

The process

Before doing the work and asking a neighbour to chip in, you generally serve a "fencing notice" setting out the boundary line, the fencing work proposed and its estimated cost. If you build without agreement or a notice, you may not be able to recover a contribution later, except for urgent repairs. If neighbours cannot agree, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) can decide the fence and how the cost is split.

You can always just agree

Nothing stops neighbours reaching their own arrangement, one paying the lot, or agreeing to a better fence together. A quick written agreement saves a lot of grief.

A written note goes a long way: a short agreement on the fence and the split, signed by both sides, heads off most of the trouble before it starts.

This is general information, not legal advice; for a dispute, talk to your council, a community justice centre or NCAT. If you and your neighbour want a fence measured and quoted, book a free measure.

You and your neighbour ready to go? Book a free on-site measure. We'll measure the boundary and come back with a fixed written quote you can both work from.
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