After every big storm, the same question comes up on neighborhood boards: the fence between two yards is down, and nobody is sure whose job it is to fix it.
A fence that separates two properties is easy to share when it's standing and surprisingly hard to share when it's lying in both yards after a hurricane. Homeowners ask whether the cost is automatically split, whether a neighbor can be made to pay, and what to do when the neighbor just doesn't respond. We're fence contractors, not attorneys, so this isn't legal advice — but here is the practical path most Broward homeowners follow to get a fallen fence back up.
This is the question that decides almost everything else, and it's often not what people assume. A fence "between" two yards may sit entirely on one lot, and whoever built it or bought the house with it may own it outright. Your property survey (often in your closing documents) shows the boundary. If the fence is clearly on your side, it's generally treated as yours to repair; if it's on theirs, theirs. If it straddles the line or ownership is unclear, that's when a conversation — and possibly professional advice — is needed.
Before anyone argues about cost, deal with anything dangerous: panels leaning over a pool, sharp debris, a gap that lets a pool or a dog become a hazard. Then photograph everything from both sides, with dates, before any cleanup. Good documentation helps with insurance, with your neighbor, and with any dispute later. Our guide to whether hurricane fence damage is covered by insurance explains why the photos matter so much.
Whoever owns the fence would normally be the one to claim for it under their own homeowners policy, subject to its wind coverage and deductible. If a hurricane deductible is higher than the cost of the repair, most people end up paying directly. It's worth each neighbor checking their policy before assuming the other one's insurance will pay.
Most shared-fence disputes aren't about money so much as silence. A simple approach works best: share the photos, share a repair estimate, and propose a plan — replace like for like, split the cost, or one party takes it on. Get agreement in writing, even a text message, before work starts. Neighbors who agree on the fence style, height and who pays before the contractor arrives rarely end up fighting about it afterwards.
This is a common frustration after a storm. Options homeowners typically consider, roughly in order:
Replacing a fence after a storm usually still needs the same approvals as a new one. Check requirements with your city and HOA before rebuilding — see our guide to Broward County fence permit requirements.
Figure out who owns the fence, make it safe, photograph everything, check both insurance policies, and agree the plan in writing before work starts. If you need an itemized estimate to share with your neighbor or your insurer, we can provide one. Not sure whether the fence can be repaired? See repair or replace after a storm.
We'll give you a written estimate you can share with your neighbor or your insurer.
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