Can I paint my side of my neighbour's fence?
No, not without their permission. Citizens Advice is explicit: you cannot make changes to your side of a neighbour's fence without their permission, such as painting it. The fence is their property, and your side of it is still their property. The same applies to staining, nailing trellis to it, or fixing lights and planters. Ask first, get the answer in writing, and keep it.
The reason is ownership of the structure rather than ownership of a view. If the fence belongs to your neighbour, every part of it belongs to them, including the face that points at your garden. Citizens Advice sets out the position alongside the related point that a neighbour does not have to change a fence just because you want them to, for example making it higher for privacy. Paint, stain, wood preservative, trellis battens, screws for lights and wire for climbers are all alterations to someone else's property.
Most people asking this do not actually know who owns the fence, and often nobody does. Where ownership or maintenance responsibility cannot be determined, Land Registry treats the feature as a party boundary and says alterations or replacement should only be done with the agreement of the adjoining owners. So the answer does not change. If it is theirs, ask. If it is shared or unknown, ask. The only situation where you can paint freely is a fence that is clearly and provably yours, standing on your own land.
Getting permission is usually straightforward and worth doing properly. Put the request in a message or an email so there is a record, describe exactly what you want to do, and name the colour or the product. Dark stains and opaque paints are the ones people object to, because they change the appearance on both sides. If the answer is no, that is the end of it. Painting anyway risks a claim for damage to their property, and it sours the relationship you will need the next time a panel comes down.
There is a route that needs nobody's permission. Build your own fence or screen just inside your own boundary, on your own land, and it is yours to paint, stain and plant against. Keep it clear of the existing fence so both sides can be maintained. Closeboard runs at a guide £90 to £130 per metre excluding VAT, and heights up to 2 metres are usually permitted development away from a highway used by vehicles. On a shared boundary with no clear owner, a jointly agreed replacement normally costs less than two parallel fences.
More in fence law and neighbours, or browse all 36 questions on the FAQ index.
Price your fencing
Two quick steps. We reply within one working day.
No account, no obligation. We only use this to prepare your quote.
Ready to price your fencing?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We reply within one working day with an honest cost bracket, then a fixed written quote once we have measured up.