That looks enormous for a “shed.” First thing I would do is check the zoning and building codes for your municipality. First I would look for required setbacks from the property line (it looks very close). Next I would look at permissible size for auxiliary structures and see if this complies. I would also look to see if a building permit was granted. Does your town require notifying neighbors before construction? If there’s any violations your municipal building and zoning departments can help you resolve this. But depending upon your relationship with your neighbor, it’s always better to reach an amicable solution directly. Good luck.

How about those blinds that close from the bottom up? Also try sheers.

That is no shed. Looks like about 15' by 8'. Does it have a foundation? Four windows looking right onto your property. Is the fence near the property line?

I agree, check the zoning and building codes for your municipality. If they didn't pull a permit, then, someone should come out and take a look.

If it stays, a line of green giant arborvitae right along your property line will do the trick.

my guess is it's not a shed but a work from home office space. Following because I can't wait to see how this turns out.

If it meets the building codes there is not much you can do about it. As for screening it. the best thing I can think of is look out of windows that do not over look the shed, or move to the country where you can get an acre or more of property.

My experience with building codes is quite negative. When a neighbor built a large carport IN FRONT of his house, the county said it was built with out a permit, but other wise meet code. They also said I could file a complaint, and then they could collect the permit money, but they still could do nothing about the structure.

You need a big hedge. Not knowing your growing region I can’t suggest varietals. In my region I would use wax myrtles because they are fast growing, evergreen, and create a bushy canopy but stop at about 15 feet tall. Viburnum, ligustrum, arborvitae all come to mind.

Following

Look on the bright side they also have mostly windows on that side so it will not look as bad :-)

That said most zoning requirements for sheds/structures to be 10' from the property line, I assume they got zoning approval. If that's the case, to get some privacy on the 1st floor or deck you can plant some cedar trees, or what Hallett suggested. Also on the second floor is mostly bedrooms so most of the time when you there its already dark out so it shouldn't be a big deal not to mention, not much of a view there anyway, frankly speaking with that shed there the view might improve and give you more privacy for your deck from them.

I would recommend thinking very carefully before you go the (nuclear) route of trying to stop the build. It’s your right to try of course, but that will likely torpedo your relationship with this neighbour for as long as you live next to each other.
Toxic relationships with neighbours can be very costly, both with respect to money spent (for instance on lawyers) and especially with respect to peace of mind and enjoyment of your homes.
Proceed with caution.
For what it’s worth I would like put that effort and money on the landscaping route. Maybe your neighbour will even consider splitting that to give you each more privacy

Options: On your deck a privacy screen, in backyard a row of tall evergreens, perhaps sheers on windows in family room and bottom up blinds in kitchen - may as well make the best of it. Maybe wait to see if it still bothers you down the road a bit before investing in any changes. You are just disappointed right now.

I agree with DrDeb. Tread lightly and carefully. Peace is worth everything.

It doesn’t look that bad to me from the window but of course I can’t see what it looks like from your deck. I see a split rail fence - is that yours? Obviously the split rail doesn’t do much for privacy.

My house is regrettably close to both my side neighbors. I’m a gardener so that’s my solution - a variety of small trees, tall grasses, and large shrubs.

You could have a neighbor who parks their giant camper trailer right there....I would rather look at a shed, especially brand new.

I is his property and he can do what he likes and who knows with all those windows it might be very attractive. I agree he could have a hunk of old cars sitting there so count your lucky stars. This is what happens in city lots , maybe he doesn’t like the look of your deck which BTW could look better and he gets the view of a side of your house all brick. This is a live and let live situation and best left alone . You can of course see if he has a permit but beyond that this is life.IMO from your deck there is no way to hide the soon to be shed move on.

Thank you. Someone mentioned cars sitting there...those are in the driveway (even though he has a three car garage). I also didn’t mention the fact that he works on this shed from for three hours each afternoon under my 11 month old’s window, in the middle of her nap. Needless to say this is a very slow moving process. I would love to keep the peace, but that requires cooperation from both sides. I also find it very frustrating that this structure can barely even be seen from his house because of their window placement. I appreciate the recommendations and will look into having those planted.

...Also, I heard from another neighbor that it will be a storage shed with maybe a small greenhouse.

Circling back to the only question you posed “I need ideas to help hide the shed...”. As a few have suggested, landscaping is your only answer for the downstairs windows and your deck. To give you more specific ideas, a picture of your yard & deck is needed as well as info on where you live. Depending on orientation of your deck, you may also be able to add an attractive permanent view shielding structure on your deck or next to it such as a wooden screen, arbor, pergola type structure ,add climbing vines etc. Need pictures to suggest anything. All that aside, I’m sympathetic to your issue & hopefully he was a considerate enough neighbor to at least tell you what he was building. At least it does look like it has potential to look like a nice structure (for him) & I agree it doesn’t look like a shed but maybe an ADU / guest cottage? I know from personal experience that over time you’ll adjust to it being there. Little comfort now I know!

The only view that is guaranteed is the view you own.

I can think of a lot worse things to look at in a neighboring yard.

- Given the picture, not sure where else it could have gone; maybe their view was not part of the decision.

- Could have been a teenager hang out carpentry workshop, or music studio - just looking on the bright side.

- Cars in driveway; the garage may be filled with storage/bikes, etc and reason for shed. This should reduce the cars in his driveway, if it’s bothering you.

- Have you mentioned the nap time? Maybe it never occurred to him.

Overall it’s not an eyesore; just a disappointment, but there are some modifications that you can do. I mentioned a few in my first post and you’re getting some great advice from people.

There were 7 large, beautiful trees removed from the neighbour’s property backing onto our backyard. The RENTER (who moved out a few months later) didn’t want to clean the pool as much! Learned later Owner had not been aware. We urgently reached the city as he had only chained sawed two at this point, but it was legal given their age fell into an allowable period. I remember calling out to my husband to ask him to stop and how upsetting it was. When the new neighbours moved in they had a daughter who had cancer. It was a reminder to me to put things into perspective.

Look into Skyrocket juniper, also.

In the short term, one row of cafe curtains on tension rods on the lower window halves or top down, botom up shades will help hide the shed. In the long run, a good evergreen hedge will work.

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“I also find it very frustrating that this structure can barely even be seen from his house because of his window placement.” With all due respect, this way of thinking is going to make you more and more unhappy about HIS shed on HIS property. Not yours. His.

Mitigate YOUR views as best you can through fencing and shrubbery and live YOUR life.

I know anytime there is this type of change, it takes time to adjust. You will be surprised how what seems like such a big deal now will not even bother you in 6 months. Just give it some time to adjust to the change. You can plant shrubs,etc., but give it a few months. If it still drives you crazy, then take action to alter your view with some shrubs..

Possibly, this is a workshop and storage area. I agree with others, if you have a good relationship with these people and they are good neighbors, don't ruin a good thing. Do they complain about your deck? Probably not. My husband as well as several neighbors built attractive storage sheds. Several also made their sheds larger to include a workshop area for building their wives beautiful furniture. We all added plants on the exterior and one added a pergola close by and snuggled it in with their beautiful azaleas so the wife could read and talk to her husband while he worked.. Stay calm and let the man finish, it could be quite lovely. In the mean time, start shopping for fast growing plants and trees so it won't be long before the only window that will need the curtains closed will be on the 2nd floor.

Tell me about it, we planted silver sheen pittosporums along our fence line with some small under plantings, was tired of looking a neighbours washing line. They grew fast and it looks great, they are evergreen also

This is also what we put up along top of fence, you can see pittosporum further up the garden. We are in total privacy now, get on fine with neighbours, they probably enjoy it also 😂😉

You seriously think your neighbor should schedule his build around nap time?

I also had a neighbor (across the street), put up the ugliest shed at the end of their driveway. I looked at it from the front of my house. I did call the building department to see if they had a permit. They did, so there was not much I could do about it. Thankfully they moved and the next owner tore it down. I would find out if he has a permit (you can do this from a cell so the building dept. won't know who you are). If there is no permit, then you can let them know what's going on. If he does have a permit then start planting.

It is HIS yard. If the shed is legally placed, then you need to do what you can in YOUR yard/home to mitigate what you don't like about it. This might mean a tall hedge row on your property line, or having your daughter take her nap in another part of the home for now. You are driving yourself crazy being mad about something you can't control....focus on what you can control.

If he has his permits- nothing you can do about him doing his stuff on his property. Even if he does not have his permits, don't mean it will get torn down- he might just be asked to stop till he does have permits, or possibly fined.

If he does get the shed built, he might still use his driveway as he wants to. He might still leave his garage as-is and still park his cars where he wants on his property.

It might not terribly polite to how you like to run your household, but he can build as much as he wants on his property during the day.

If you don't like the views outside your property, you can do as others have suggested. Build tall fences/privacy screens, plant fast growing tall plants, put up window treatments that block the view.

What a nice little building that looks like it’s going to be.

Re the nap. We have a difficult neighbour; we keep our distance and have cordial enough relationship. About 18 years ago, shortly after we moved in, my husband was outside one morning raking the leaves in our backyard. Difficult Neighbour stuck her head out of her window and said "Could you please not make so much noise! You KNOW I don't sleep well at night!".

Huh??

We still chuckle over that one. But we have made sure over the years to be polite and cordial (ie not friendly, but pleasant) and it has served us well

houssaon

"That is no shed. Looks like about 15' by 8'."

I have news for you. That is definitely a shed. Mine will be 12x20, and I wish it could be bigger.

How small do you think it has to be, to be a shed??

Update: 5 months later and here’s the “shed”.

nice looking shed.

That's a nice looking shed. Could have ended up being one of those vinyl plastic sheds.

You haven't shown us your deck. You can always add a trellis wall

Ok, still don’t see the issue. Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t make it wrong.

Oh that’s real nice. They spent some bucks there.

Let's hope your neighbors don't come here now and say the shed looks better than your house and having all the windows on that side, they're irritating that now they have to look at your house... :-)

with those windows & ceiling glass panels that has to be some kind of greenhouse or workshop, not a storage shed. Wonder if there’s power to it? Seems like there’s enough space on Loey10 side of fence to plant some medium growing things along the fence to soften the view of the structure. Will be interesting to see what purpose they use it for. Windows must be placed on the side that gets the most light.

No power to it...he plugs an extension cord into the back of the house/garage, and leaves it all plugged in. Also leaves all of his scrap and trash out and it blows into our yard, and he leaves his ladder erect for weeks at a time which doesn’t seem safe with all of the young kids in our neighborhood, but nobody asked me. On the permit, he listed that it would be a workshop.

Also, there are windows on at least 3 of the 4 sides. I thought I have a picture of our deck, but I’m having trouble getting it to attach so I’ll attach tomorrow. Thanks!

I bet if your daughter wanted a giant swingset, or a playhouse, you wouldn’t think twice about putting one in your yard. Would you ask your neighbor for permission? Would you care about his opinion?

You are so “concerned” about your privacy, but yet here you are posting pics of your neighbors property on the internet.

It looks like your neighbor made a nice looking workshop/greenhouse. It does look big but I think it may eventually have issues with rain runoff because it is at the bottom end of a steeply inclined slope. He may wish he had put it in a higher location. I have out up 13 fast growing Emerald arborvitae on one side of my yard (wrapped in deer netting) that gives me total privacy on the right side of my yard. In the back I have planted 10 Green Giant arborvitae so I can't see the houses in back since our backyards abut even though we live on different streets/neighborhoods. In the bedrooms I have sheer curtains that still let in plenty of light but give us a break from our neighbors. Now if I could just do something my neighbors too tall tree that sheds thousands of tiny round seeds, hundreds of "propeller" seeds that end up in my dryer, freezer, hamper and make my deck unliveable for 2 to 3 weeks every June and way too many branches that cause sparks and little fires and even caused 3 local news channels to come to the street after a mini tornado. He keeps the tree well pruned too but refuses to take it down because arborists keep telling it's a healthy tree.

I think that's a great looking shed. I don't have any idea why you think there is something wrong with it.