Editing Fence (section)

===United Kingdom===
====Generally====
Ownership of a fence on a boundary varies. The last relevant original title [[deed]](s)<ref>In registered land scanned in and stored at the Land Registry</ref> and a completed seller's property information form may document which side has to put up and has installed any fence respectively; the first using "T" marks/symbols (the side with the "T" denotes the owner); the latter by a ticked box to the best of the last owner's belief with no duty, as the conventionally agreed conveyancing process stresses, to make any detailed, protracted enquiry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who owns the fence? |url=https://www.higgsllp.co.uk/articles/who-owns-the-fence |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.higgsllp.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> Commonly the mesh or panelling is in mid-position. Otherwise it tends to be on non-owner's side so the fence owner might access the posts when repairs are needed but this is not a legal requirement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/land-registry-plans-boundaries/land-registry-plans-boundaries-practice-guide-40-supplement-3|title=Land Registry plans: boundaries (practice guide 40, supplement 3) - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-02-17|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218063737/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/land-registry-plans-boundaries/land-registry-plans-boundaries-practice-guide-40-supplement-3|archive-date=2017-02-18}}</ref> Where estate planners wish to entrench privacy a close-boarded fence or equivalent well-maintained hedge of a minimum height may be stipulated by deed. Beyond a standard height planning permission is necessary.

====The hedge and ditch ownership presumption====
Where a rural fence or hedge has (or in some cases had) an adjacent ditch, the ditch is normally in the same ownership as the hedge or fence, with the ownership boundary being the edge of the ditch furthest from the fence or hedge.<ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/ldjudgmt/jd990429/alan.htm Lawrence J. in ''Vowles v. Miller'' (1810) 3 Taunt. 137, 138, quoted in ''Alan Wibberley Building Limited v. Insley'', House of Lords Judgement (1999)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708225623/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/ldjudgmt/jd990429/alan.htm |date=2017-07-08 }}</ref> The principle of this rule is that an owner digging a boundary ditch will normally dig it up to the very edge of their land, and must then pile the spoil on their own side of the ditch to avoid [[trespass]]ing on their neighbour. They may then erect a fence or hedge on the spoil, leaving the ditch on its far side. Exceptions exist in law, for example where a plot of land derives from subdivision of a larger one along the centre line of a previously existing ditch or other feature, particularly where reinforced by historic parcel numbers with acreages beneath which were used to tally up a total for administrative units not to confirm the actual size of holdings, a rare instance where Ordnance Survey maps often provide more than circumstantial evidence namely as to which feature is to be considered the boundary.

====Fencing of livestock====
On private land in the [[United Kingdom]], it is the landowner's responsibility to fence their [[livestock]] in. Conversely, for [[common land]], it is the surrounding landowners' duty to fence the common's livestock out such as in large parts of the [[New Forest]]. Large commons with livestock roaming have been greatly reduced by 18th and 19th century Acts for enclosure of commons covering most local units, with most remaining such land in the UK's National Parks.

====Fencing of railways====
A 19th-century law requires railways to be fenced to keep people and livestock out.<ref>https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/5-6/55/section/X/enacted {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> It is also illegal to trespass on railways, incurring a fine of up to £1000.