Fence Laws in Maine (Casco, Hope: lawyer, landscaping, maintenance)

[wellfleetblondie]

Does anyone know where to find specific fence laws in Maine? My neighbor out up a fence within inches of my property line (on his side) and he cannot maintain it unless he walks into my yard to do it. He has been harrassing & threatening (I think he has a few screws loose-seriously) and he has threatened me while walking my dog by gunning his car at me & making me jump out of his way. I have had to call the police because of his threats & he has been warned to stop. Since then, he has put up a ladder to hang over the fence for "maintenance" & to put up signs facing into my yard. I cannot find ANY specific laws about fences which addresses how you can maintain your fence if it is too close to the boundary line to walk on your own property in order to do it. i called my code enforcement officer in our town to ask if it is legal to actually lean over the fence under guise of "maintenance" or putting up signs & he had no answers other than to say that he does own the fence. There must be some written law? PLEASE HELP. I have evne contacted a lawyer who also does not know. I am trying not to take this guy to court & let a judge decide for fear of retribution.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I have never heard of such a thing in Maine. I recommend you do a Google search in Connecticut and New Jersey for common law judgments in such cases. We use fences to keep our animals in, not to bother neighbors; which leads me to the basic question:

Where is this guy from?

[CoastalMaine]

Are you from Wellfleet on the Cape or up in Maine? What area of Maine if that's where you're at?

[JC3]

Not sure what the laws in Maine are regarding fences, but in a lot of areas the owner of the fence is required to keep the side of the fence facing the neighbor or the public presentable and not an eye sore or full of signs. Also, fences over a certain height are deemed "spite fences" and are not legal in many places.

Sure hope I never run into a "neighbor" like that.

[retiredtinbender]

There are no fence laws in Maine with the exception of a "spite fence". A landowner is allowed to put a fence on the property line but also has to be able to maintain it. I t could be quite a few years fro maintaiance to be required if at all (chainlink fences in particular). I warn people about that before they put the up. I know one person who put up a detachable fence on her line. She just needs to lift and remove a section to paint it.

The State lets the toowns decide anything on fences. They stay out of it fro the most part. Towns generally only mandate height requirements and styles sometimes.

[7th generation]

This must be frustrating and disturbing. In some states you can be liable for half the cost of a property line fence.
As soon as you get back from vacation, I'd check with the planning board in your community.
A quick check of your IP shows you are in San Jose, Costa Rica!

[wellfleetblondie]

Thanks for the replies. Yes I do live most of the year in Costa Rica. This ongoing fence saga continues so I called the code enforcement officer in Casco Maine. He said Casco has no fence height requirements in my case so I re-installed my old fence 1 foot higher which is 10 feet. I had permission from the code enforcement officer. My fence is basically a trellis with lattice 4 feet high & 8 feet wide which begins about 6" below the neighbors fence. The bottom is greenhouse fabric in forest green. Hopefully it will become a living fence over a few years as trellis plants take over. The neighbor tore out all my erosion control plantings which I did the day before. Also cut the surveyors marker & removed my rope fence on the sloped area. I am literally here less than 3 weeks a year (scattered as I spend my time in wellfleet MA). So it is not 3 solid weeks. This is extremely frustrating but at least I do not have spotlights shining in my face at night. It has now moved to tearing out landscaping & erosion control where there is no fence (cannot put in a fence on the slope to the river- which i do not want to do anyway) I prefer plants ot fences anyway. I really wish I had different neighbors. Thanks for all the nice messages. I am trying to keep smiling.

[wellfleetblondie]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

I have never heard of such a thing in Maine. I recommend you do a Google search in Connecticut and New Jersey for common law judgments in such cases. We use fences to keep our animals in, not to bother neighbors; which leads me to the basic question:

Where is this guy from?

He is from Rhode Island but when I got back this year my winter guests told me he has moved here permanently. I think he has gotten spoiled being here alone most of the time & he has the attitude that he is going to do whatever he pleases- a quote he repeated to law enforcement officer. It is very frustrating- he has escalated to physical threats & screaming & temper outbursts for no reason. I have not spoken a single word to this man - especially since I am here most of the time alone.

[wellfleetblondie]

Originally Posted by CoastalMaine

Are you from Wellfleet on the Cape or up in Maine? What area of Maine if that's where you're at?

Yes I spend most of my time in Wellfleet MA since I have a small summer business there. My cottage is in Casco Maine. I live the rest of the year in Costa Rica so I am lucky to spend 3 weeks total over these months here in Maine. And right now, it is so miserable when I am here that I want to leave. The abuse of this neighbor is beyond comprehension. i have not spoken a single word to him to try & avoid inflaming him but he is anyway- I think just my presence inflames him.

[wellfleetblondie]

Originally Posted by retiredtinbender

There are no fence laws in Maine with the exception of a "spite fence". A landowner is allowed to put a fence on the property line but also has to be able to maintain it. I t could be quite a few years fro maintaiance to be required if at all (chainlink fences in particular). I warn people about that before they put the up. I know one person who put up a detachable fence on her line. She just needs to lift and remove a section to paint it.

The State lets the toowns decide anything on fences. They stay out of it fro the most part. Towns generally only mandate height requirements and styles sometimes.

Yes I live in Costa Rica 8 or so months of the year- in a really remote place - but our IP address shows San Jose!