Blog > Survey Line vs Fence Line
The Fence Was the Line. Until It Wasn’t.
Thirty years ago, two neighboring landowners stood at the fence that divided their farms.
They talked it over and agreed the fence would be the boundary. Each would maintain the ground on their side. No paperwork. No survey. Just a handshake.
And for thirty years, it worked.
Both honored the agreement. The fence stayed put. The land was cared for. There were no disputes. No questions. Just a shared understanding.
Then one neighbor passed away.
The farm sold, and the new owner ordered a survey. The results showed the fence was several feet inside his deeded property.
Now the questions start.
Is the fence still the boundary.
Or does the survey change everything.
The new owner wants the fence moved. The neighboring landowner says that fence has been the line for decades and shouldn’t change simply because the ownership did.
So where is the boundary now.
Here’s the reality.
Fence laws differ by state and county. Long-standing use can matter in some places. In others, the deed and survey carry more weight. Courts may consider how long the fence existed, who maintained it, how the land was treated, and whether both parties accepted it as the boundary.
If the neighbors can’t settle it themselves, a judge will decide.
And the outcome could go either way.
One side argues history, fairness, and thirty years of agreement.
The other argues recorded title, accuracy, and certainty.
Both believe they’re right.
This isn’t really about a few feet of ground. It’s about whether informal agreements survive a change in ownership. Whether a handshake binds the land or only the people who made it.
So what do you think.
Should a survey override decades of practice.
Or should long-standing agreements still matter.
There’s no easy answer.
Just opinions. And sometimes, a courtroom.
Dennis Prussman,
Premier Land & Auction Group
Real Broker, LLC,