Section 11. If a division of fence between the owners of improved land has been made either by fence viewers or under an agreement in writing between the parties which has been recorded in the office of the clerk of the town, the several occupants of such land and their heirs and assigns shall erect and maintain said fences agreeably to such division; but if a person lays his land common and determines not to improve any part adjoining the fence so divided, and gives six months' notice of his determination to all the occupants of adjoining land, he shall not be required to keep up or maintain said fence during the time that his land lies common and unimproved.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts
Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers
Section 1 - Fence Viewers; Appointment; Tenure
Section 2 - Definition of Fences
Section 3 - Maintenance of Partition Fences
Section 4 - Failure to Maintain Partition Fence; Proceedings by Adjoining Occupant
Section 5 - Remedy for Repair of Deficient Fence
Section 6 - Disputes Regarding Repairs; Arbitration
Section 7 - Remedy for Repair of Deficient Fence Assigned by Fence Viewers
Section 8 - Remedy for Repairing More Than Just Share of Partition Fence
Section 9 - Construction and Maintenance of Fences Between Lands Divided by a River
Section 10 - Fences on Lands Owned in Severalty and Occupied in Common; Construction
Section 11 - Maintenance of Fences Surrounding Land Laying Common
Section 12 - Purchase of Rights in Fence
Section 13 - Enclosing of Formerly Unenclosed Land; Liability of Owner; Exception
Section 14 - Boundary Disputes
Section 15 - Rebuilding of Fence on True Boundary; Duties of Adjoining Owners
Section 16 - Fence Viewers; Jurisdiction Where Fence Is on Town Boundary
Section 18 - Fence Viewers; Powers
Section 19 - Penalty for Misfeasance
Section 21 - Fences Deemed a Private Nuisance; Right of Action
Section 22 - Pounds; Establishment; Appointment of Keeper
Section 23 - Pounds; Penalty for Injuring
Section 24 - Duties of Field Driver; Taking Up Untended Animals
Section 25 - Duties of Keeper; Impounding of Untended Animals
Section 26 - Fees of Field Driver and Pound Keeper
Section 28 - Use of Premises of Field Driver for Keeping Impounded Animals; Conditions
Section 29 - Remedies for Damage Done by Untended Animals
Section 30 - Care of Distrained Animals
Section 31 - Duties of Distrainor
Section 32 - Release of Distrained Animals; Conditions
Section 33 - Notice of Impounding
Section 34 - Publication of Notice of Impounding
Section 35 - Determination of Amount of Damages in Dispute
Section 36 - Procedure for Settlement of Claim
Section 37 - Sale of Animals to Satisfy Claim
Section 38 - Disposition of Proceeds
Section 39 - Escaped or Rescued Animals; Right to Retake