Iowa Has Fence Viewers. I Had No Idea.

I’ve been selling real estate for over ten years, and last month I ran into an Iowa property law I had never heard of.

A neighboring owner insisted my sellers were responsible for fencing between two properties. That sent us somewhere I’d never been. We had to figure out who owned the fence, where the property line actually was, and whether one owner can legally require another to build or maintain it.

First, the disclaimer: I’m a Realtor, not a surveyor or an attorney. So I started calling the right people. Here’s what surprised me.

Iowa has something called fence viewers. Under Iowa Code Chapter 359A, the township trustees where a dispute arises serve as the fence viewers. They hear partition fence disagreements between adjoining landowners and issue a written order spelling out who is responsible for which part of the fence. Either owner can ask for that process in writing, the viewers give written notice of a hearing, and the order is filed with the township clerk. If an owner disagrees, there is an appeal path to district court.

For anyone buying or selling land, acreage, or a home on the edge of town, here’s why this matters. A fence is one of those details that rarely shows up in a listing, but it can come up the moment a neighbor has an opinion. Before you list or buy, it helps to know a few things: where the property line actually is (a survey answers that, a guess doesn’t), whether a fence exists and who built it, and whether any past agreement with a neighbor was ever put in writing.

If a question like this comes up in your transaction, bring in the right professionals early: a surveyor for the line, and an attorney for what the law requires of each owner. The rules above are a general overview, not legal advice, and your township office is a good place to start if you have a real dispute.

Ten-plus years in and this was brand-new information. Being good at this job doesn’t mean knowing everything. Sometimes it means knowing who to call when you don’t.

Got a weird situation or a question you think might stump me? Reach out. Call or text (515) 290-7950.

Thinking about buying, selling, or building in the Ames area? Call or text me at (515) 290-7950, or email sievers@c21sre.com. Seen one of my videos? Comment MATT on it and I’ll get back to you.

Matt Sievers, REALTOR®, Sievers Real Estate Team with CENTURY 21 Signature Real Estate