# Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-103: Horses, cattle, and mules sufficiently fenced

> Tennessee · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-103

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-103
- **Heading:** Horses, cattle, and mules sufficiently fenced
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** TN Code / Title 44 / Chapter 8 / Section 44-8-103

## Text

The following shall be sufficient and be deemed a lawful fence only as to horses, cattle, and mules: any enclosure made by stretching not less than five (5) strands of barbed wire tightly between posts firmly set in the ground, or between growing trees and posts firmly set in the ground, not more than twenty feet (20') apart; the topmost wire not less than four and one-half feet (41/2') from the ground, the bottom wire not less than six inches (6"), and the next to the bottom wire not less than fifteen inches (15") from the ground. Acts 1883, ch. 46, § 1; Shan., § 2981; Code 1932, § 5204; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 44-1703, 44-9-103.
The following shall be sufficient and be deemed a lawful fence only as to horses, cattle, and mules: any enclosure made by stretching not less than five (5) strands of barbed wire tightly between posts firmly set in the ground, or between growing trees and posts firmly set in the ground, not more than twenty feet (20') apart; the topmost wire not less than four and one-half feet (41/2') from the ground, the bottom wire not less than six inches (6"), and the next to the bottom wire not less than fifteen inches (15") from the ground.
Acts 1883, ch. 46, § 1; Shan., § 2981; Code 1932, § 5204; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 44-1703, 44-9-103.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-101 Land in cultivation sufficiently fenced](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-101.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-102 Various materials constituting sufficient fencing - Rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-102.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-103 Horses, cattle, and mules sufficiently fenced](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-103.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-104 Paling and wire fence lawful](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-104.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-105 Three-wire, plank, or slat fence a lawful fence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-105.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-106 Damages for trespass - Determination - Recovery](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-106.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-107 Defense of insufficiency of fence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-107.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-108 Injury to animals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-108.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-109 Notoriously mischievous stock to be confined](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-109.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-110 Liability of owners of notoriously mischievous stock](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-110.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-111 Stock liable to execution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-111.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-112 Pulling and leaving down fence, or opening and leaving open gate, a misdemeanor](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-112.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-201 Partition fence defined - Joining fences](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-201.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-202 Fences to be erected and maintained at joint expense](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-202.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T44_C8_S44-8-103. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.