Bedroom Talk

What can I do about my neighbor putting up a "spite" fence?

Our property lines are very close (less than 4 ft off my house) and my neighbor put up a six foot tall stockade fence that completely blocks view, light, and air from my kids bedrooms. The fence is only set 2 inches onto his property therefore he is unable to maintain both sides without tresspassing on our property. The fence does NOT provide privacy as it only covers the side of my house and does not divide our yards! This is a spite fence! Local town officials claim that they can not help and would have to file a civil suit. Are there any alternatives? Help please!

Public Comments

1. Throw over a few "spite bricks"
2. So what, your kids have no oxygen since they put up this "spite fence"??? You sound like the reason why, you sound overbearing and controlling. You may just want to leave well enough alone and not worry about it. Unless it's genuinely a menace or something, what's the big deal?
3. Maybe it is a "spite" fence, but he is allowed to put up a fence on his property. Make sure he knows he can't trespass on your property. If he does then the police can be contacted for that. But what would you even file a law suit for? It would have to cause damage to you, which blocking your view, etc. is something he can do on his property.
4. It sounds like it is his right to put up the fence. Have you done something to annoy him?
5. if it's on his property, then your out of luck. you could however talk with the neighbor to see if there is another solution
6. perhaps you can grow a prickly ,smelly plant up and over it, so it cascades down on his side onto his garden.
7. Check your city ordinances...most cities have a height limit on fences. What is the beef between you two? You can always visit rottenneighbor.com and list him there so everyone will know who he is. I hope you can settle this out of court, but if you can't refer it to civil court and have him reduce the height.
8. Hahaha. A spite fence? If it were me, someone would have to seriously annoy the crap out of me for me to spend money just to put up a spite fence. We are all dying to know...what did you do to your neighbor?
9. So your neighbor put up a fence on his property, so what. Maybe he put up the fence to have some privacy from you and your kids,,,,,,,let it go. There's an old saying,"Good fences make good neighbors".
10. Nothing!
11. If the fence is in accordance with local codes, there is nothing you can do. It is the fence construction that matters, not your neighbor's motivations or your perception of them.
12. I know of someone who had to put up what u call a spite fence. Raising 2 small kids next to a drug house. Putting up a fence only protects the kids from the activities of this drug house. but, it scares me, that someday. this house will explode, because of the drugs they make