Contact the Courthouse in your city or county and ask about any local fencing laws. Depending on where you live, you may need a permit or complete other paperwork before removing the fence. Your town may also have laws in place that protect fences for livestock or other means.
Request a copy of your neighborhood map or other paperwork that shows your exact boundary lines. Compare the boundary line against the fence line on your yard. Make sure that the fence sits on your property line and not on any neighboring properties.
Contact your neighbor if the fence sits partially on your neighbor’s property. You need your neighbor's permission before cutting down the fence. You also need permission if you share maintenance of fences that sit on a neighbor’s property.
Wait for a response from the property owner. If you share ownership of the fence, then you must wait to remove the fence until you receive an approval from the other owner.
Remove the fence from the property. Dig the shovel into the ground around the fence, removing the top few inches of soil. Pull the fence out by sections, working with one section at a time.