Adjoining landowners are owners of land with common boundaries, and have mutual rights, duties, and obligations related to their adjoining pieces of land.
In West Virginia, adjoining landowners, also known as adjacent property owners, have certain rights and responsibilities concerning their shared property boundaries. These rights and duties often pertain to issues such as boundary disputes, maintenance of boundary lines, fences, and shared resources like water or access roads. West Virginia follows the common law for most matters relating to adjoining landowners, which means that case law and court decisions often guide these issues. For example, landowners may be required to share the cost of maintaining a boundary fence, and they must refrain from activities that cause harm to their neighbor's property, such as causing soil erosion or obstructing natural watercourses. Additionally, if a boundary dispute arises, landowners are encouraged to resolve the matter amicably, but they may need to resort to a legal action called a 'quiet title action' to determine the legal property boundaries. It is important for adjoining landowners in West Virginia to be aware of their rights and obligations and to seek guidance from an attorney if disputes or uncertainties arise.