Fence permits and fence contractor in Ashtabula County, Ohio

Ashtabula County is the northeast corner of Ohio, with permits handled by township

Ashtabula County sits in the northeast corner of Ohio, with Jefferson as the county seat and the city of Ashtabula as its largest city. It borders Erie County and Crawford County in Pennsylvania. Towns named in county sources include Andover, Conneaut, Orwell, Geneva, Rock Creek and Austinburg. Land use ranges from towns to farms and rural roads, so the same county can have a fence rule in one township and none in the next.

We did not find a single county office that issues fence permits in Ashtabula County. Permits and zoning questions go to the township, city or village that covers the property. Solid Rock Fencing is based in Bristolville in neighboring Trumbull County and builds in Ohio and Pennsylvania. We do not publish a list of counties we cover. The FREE estimate call confirms whether we reach your property.

A real example from Harpersfield Township

Harpersfield Township publishes a zoning permit application, updated November 2023, with a Fence checkbox among the types of work. The form asks for a site plan and shows setbacks. We use it here as an example of how one Ashtabula County township handles fence work, not as the rule for the county. Another township might use a different form, charge a different fee or leave fences out of its permit process.

What a good site plan sketch includes

The OSU Extension fact sheet lists a fence among projects that typically need a township zoning permit with a site plan showing setbacks. A site plan does not have to be fancy. It is a scaled or labeled drawing that tells the inspector where the fence goes.

• Property lines and where you found the corner pins or monuments.
• The house, barn, garage, pool, driveway and any other structures, with distances to the fence.
• The fence line itself, with total length and the location and width of every gate.
• The road, ditch and any easements you know of, so the setback can be checked.
• Fence height and material, written next to the line.
• Your name, address and parcel number, and a north arrow if the form asks.

If you want us to walk the line first, call for a FREE estimate. We measure and mark the fence line with you, so the sketch you hand the township matches what gets built.

Questions to put to an Ashtabula County township

The best way to get a clear answer is to ask the same short list of questions of every office, and write down the name of the person who answered. Rules can change when a township amends its resolution, and this is general information, not legal advice.

What fence work suits rural Ashtabula land

Much of the county is farm and rural residential land, which points to a few repeat jobs. A pasture needs woven wire fence or board with braced corners. Horse owners need a safer, more visible fence than cattle owners do, with details on the horse fence page. A house lot near the road often wants a privacy or picket fence. And an older fence may be worth saving through repair, painting or staining, or new gates on the posts that are still sound.

If the neighbor will not share a line fence

Ohio's partition fence law, ORC Chapter 971, covers line fences between rural owners. If an owner neglects to build or maintain a shared fence, the township trustees can decide who is responsible. The trustees give the adjoining owners at least 10 days' written notice, view the fence, check county recorder records and decide at their next regular meeting. An owner who disagrees with an equitable assignment can request binding arbitration within 30 days.

1. Talk firstA conversation and a written agreement filed with the county recorder is the cheapest route.
2. Get a contractor estimateTrustees can assign shares by section of fence or by a dollar share based on a contractor estimate.
3. Receive the required noticeBefore filing with trustees, the owner must receive and sign a notice explaining the court option.
4. Attend the trustee hearingAt least 10 days' written notice goes to the owners, and the trustees decide at their next regular meeting.
5. Consider arbitrationWithin 30 days of an assignment you disagree with, you can request binding arbitration.

These steps apply to partition fences under the chapter. The chapter does not apply to enclosure of lots in municipal corporations or to subdivided lots outside them. Read the fence laws guide for more.

Working near the Pennsylvania line from Ashtabula County

Ashtabula County borders Erie County and Crawford County in Pennsylvania, so some properties in the east are close to the state line. Pennsylvania zoning is by municipality, and Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code exempts residential fences no more than 6 feet high from UCC permits while a municipality may still require its own zoning permit. The Crawford County page has the Pennsylvania side.

Mistakes to avoid

• Treating a county-level search as the answer. There is no county fence office to call.
• Reusing a neighbor's permit information from another township.
• Starting posts before the permit is back where one is required.
• Setting the fence on a guessed line. Look for pins and read your deed.
• Forgetting 811. OHIO811 asks for notice at least two working days before digging and not more than 16 calendar days ahead.

Questions we hear