3,711. Dismantling a Stone Wall

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 2:6

One may not open a quarry initially in his field during shemittah so that people not think that he intended to improve his field by removing the rocks. If he started before shemittah and removed blocks of stone measuring at least a cubit (about 18”) in height, length and width from among stones that were three cubits in height, length and width, he may continue to remove stones from it all throughout shemittah.

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 2:7

Let’s say that there’s a stone wall ten handbreadths or taller (about 30” and up) and one wants to remove the stones. If the wall comprises ten or more stones – each one so large that it takes two people to carry it – he may take them. This is because people will realize that he’s taking the stones because he needs them. If the wall is smaller than ten handbreadths tall, if there are fewer than ten stones, or if the stones are so small that they don’t need two people to carry them, he may take the stones but he must leave a row of stones a handbreadth tall (about three inches) above the ground.