Both Neighbors Responsible for Common Fence Maintenance Expenses

A Glendale, Arizona home has been a family residence for more than twenty-five years. A wooden fence on the backyard property line was there when the home was purchased 25 years ago. Recently, a strong storm came through and knocked down a large portion of the wooden fence. This wooden fence needs to be replaced, but the backyard neighbor says that, although he will not object to the replacement of the wooden fence, he will not pay for any of the cost. If this wooden fence needs to be replaced, does the backyard neighbor have to pay for any of the cost?

If there is a common fence or wall on a property line between two neighboring real estate property owners, both neighboring property owners have the obligation to pay for the cost of common fence maintenance. Therefore, if the wooden fence can no longer be maintained, but must be replaced, your neighboring property owner is required to pay half of the cost to replace the wooden fence.