Neighbor uses part of my property

[Just Blue]

Sorry if I missed it...But is this OP in the US? If so...What state?

 

[quincy]

The name of the country, and the name of the state if the poster is in the US, makes a difference. I do not see that this information was provided by mountainman9 either, Blue. Perhaps he will return to give it - although putting up a fence seems to be a good way to eliminate the neighbor problem without any need for a legal action. Legal actions should be last resorts.

 

[not2cleverRed]

Probably not but some communities have some ordinances that may apply to the issue. You might try speaking with your local police, prosecutor, or an attorney familiar with the local laws.

I would talk to code enforcement.

Code enforcement could also tell OP how tall a fence he is allowed to erect.

For example, where I live, some fences can only be 4 ft, others 6 ft for residential properties. So, rather than building a "tall fence" to block out light, one could plant something that grows tall. (Avoid bamboo!)

A community next to mine has "dark sky" legislation that I'm pretty sure would not allow for floodlights, particularly floodlights that create "light pollution" to other properties. Lights must focus downward at certain angles, wattage, hours. As opposed to my community where some idiots like to shine Klieg searchlights at the sky regularly.

So, in addition to state, it can come down to what community one is in.

 

[mountainman9]

Sorry if I missed it...But is this OP in the US? If so...What state?

Sorry I didn't add that I'm in West Virginia. There aren't many local rules or zoning in these parts so people are pretty much free to do as they wish with their property. The lake community does have some rules such as keeping your property mowed and junk free but the neighbor hasn't done anything to violate these.

I havn't got the fence put in yet but I put up stakes and mulched all around my flower bed so he has absolutely no excuse for mowing off my flowers again, and he stayed out of them the last time he mowed. If he purposely leaves his flood light on for no reason while one of us is sitting out there relaxing I'm going to get a large flashlight and shine it directly into his window so they can see how it feels. There isn't any rule or law against that either.

 

[FarmerJ]

Instead of powerful flash light I cant help but wonder if well placed mirror ( s) would be a better choice.

 

[LdiJ]

Instead of powerful flash light I cant help but wonder if well placed mirror ( s) would be a better choice.

That is a seriously excellent idea!

 

[drruthless]

Kill them with kindness..

Jesus, Joseph, and Mary!
Take them some coffee cake and be done with it!
YOU did make the first attempt at introducing yourselves and welcoming them while they were moving in,
didn't you?

They say a good fence makes for good neighbor. Well I don't know about that but food is way cheaper than putting down landmines and digging trenches for a rocket launcher.
Just a thought...

.._________________________
~ It is said that necessity was the mother of all inventions.
Personally; I find poverty more inspiring. ~ drr

 

[not2cleverRed]

Jesus, Joseph, and Mary!
Take them some coffee cake and a welcome to the neighborhood.
YOU did make the first attempt at meeting and welcoming them while they were moving in,
didn't you?
They say a good fence makes for good neighbor. I don't know about that but food is whey cheaper than putting down landmines or digging trenches for a rocket launcher.
Just a thought...

.._________________________
~ It is said that necessity was the mother of all inventions.
Personally; I find poverty more inspiring. ~ drr

Not all neighbors can be reasoned with.

My family has had some beauts, including one who poured gasoline on my uncle's porch and torched the place because he had a gripe with one the kids. Another uncle had a neighbor pour paint on the cars because of a *rumor* that he was starting a Neighborhood Watch group. I've a next door neighbor whose "property manager" seems to think that our side of the fence is the town dump, judging from the stuff dumped on our side - yard waste, sand blasted paint, you name it.

 

[mountainman9]

Instead of powerful flash light I cant help but wonder if well placed mirror ( s) would be a better choice.

I like the idea but then it might look like I was the bad guy for trying to get back at him for turning his flood light on whenever he sees one of us sitting in our yard. With a flashlight I could always say that I'm looking for nightcrawlers (partially true) if he tries to make an issue of it. It would be hard to explain why I put a mirror in my yard.

 

[mountainman9]

Jesus, Joseph, and Mary!
Take them some coffee cake and be done with it!
YOU did make the first attempt at introducing yourselves and welcoming them while they were moving in,
didn't you?

They say a good fence makes for good neighbor. Well I don't know about that but food is way cheaper than putting down landmines and digging trenches for a rocket launcher.
Just a thought...

.._________________________
~ It is said that necessity was the mother of all inventions.
Personally; I find poverty more inspiring. ~ drr

Well I thought I explained that I'm not looking for a fight with anyone. I'd actually always shared this space with the previous owners but they never left the dogs poop and grill waist all over my yard and certainly didn't mow off my flowers because they wanted to put a tool shed in that they have to trespass on my property to get into. This is in a very friendly little community so I was surprised at the attitude of these people when I asked him to clean up their dogs crap and not mow my flowers off. It was like he felt he has a god given right to take over my yard.
.

 

[justalayman]

Well I thought I explained that I'm not looking for a fight with anyone. I'd actually always shared this space with the previous owners but they never left the dogs poop and grill waist all over my yard and certainly didn't mow off my flowers because they wanted to put a tool shed in that they have to trespass on my property to get into. This is in a very friendly little community so I was surprised at the attitude of these people when I asked him to clean up their dogs crap and not mow my flowers off. It was like he felt he has a god given right to take over my yard.
.

Ah, maybe there was a misunderstanding on the new neighbors part. Maybe the former neighbor conveyed the message that it's ok to use that area of your property and the new neighbor felt he should maintain it (although to his standards such as he has no desire for flowers) and is a poor dog owner that does not feel the need to clean up after his dog where he believes he has permission if not an actual right to be.

Is he in agreement with where the true lot line is as well?

I don't know if that may give you a new tack to attempt to deal with this but maybe it will

 

[FarmerJ]

nearer Halloween You are free to entertain them by having manequins in dark monk robes with soft chant music playing thru speakers in backwards English with one mannequin getting ready to sacrifice another mannequin as you move around them in a black robe doing the hokey pokey they might think your totally nuts and then decide to leave you alone forever !

 

[LdiJ]

I like the idea but then it might look like I was the bad guy for trying to get back at him for turning his flood light on whenever he sees one of us sitting in our yard. With a flashlight I could always say that I'm looking for nightcrawlers (partially true) if he tries to make an issue of it. It would be hard to explain why I put a mirror in my yard.

Dude, he is shining a flood light in your yard! Not only that, but there is an empty lots worth of space between your house and his. The only way that he is going to stop is if it becomes more annoying to him to turn it on than leave it off or change its angle. You would NOT have to explain why you have a mirror in your yard. He couldn't complain about your mirror unless he admits he has a floodlight aimed at your yard. Unless he is stupid he will just either leave the floodlight off or change the angle so that it no longer is aimed at your yard.