New neighbor put trash bins down driveway….Need Ideas for a thin FENCE

last year

Hello friends new neighbor has an issue with our shared space. Property line is in the middle of the brick. She keeps trash bins down the middle. I’m at the point that I may need to put a cute little divider. City told me that we have to put it on our side of property line. Wanted to see what is the thinnest option as a divider. Any ideas? Thank you

Featured Answer

mariapia47
Original Author

last year

last modified: last year

Hi blueberrybundtcake exactly. She is setting up bins as a fence
She’s a new owner and doesn’t like the shared setup that’s always been this way. I’m in the process widening my space in the front and will no longer park cars between the two houses because she blocks me in. It just started a few months ago. Before she parked away from line this is how she used to park

Comments (80)

marmiegard_z7b
last year
I’m wondering if it’s a “ do both things” type situation.
It costs $$ though. The survey and legal advice may suggest options you may not have thought of, or that could backfire. Christopher’s advice reminds you to think ultimately about what solutions enhance your property in positive ways that shift focus away from the “war” , shush saps joy.
I can also see desire not to erect permanent ( or very expensive) fence because maybe the neighbor will move sooner than later ( that’s wishful thinking though).
blueskysunnyday
last year
We have a next door neighbor who sounds very much like yours (but honestly worse). We were the first owners to last more than 2 years in our home in a decade (since the neighbor moved in). Our solution has been to refuse to rise to the bait. Our neighbor seems to feed off of creating drama and getting a rise/big reaction out of people. At first, her antics escalated, but then she was not getting her usual satisfaction out of us and things have gotten WAY better. I think she seeks her drama elsewhere. If I were you, I would back in the driveway so she can’t affect the opening of the driver door and try to ignore the line of trash cans and any other thing she does to try to force you to engage in her drama. Maybe that will help.
Related Discussions
Fencing and neighbors
Q
Comments (18)
Does anyone know if you need the permission of the neighbor before replacing a chainlinked fence with a wooden one? as long it was his fence to begin with, and he put it back on HIS property per the HOA/local set back ordinances IF there are any for a fence, then you have absolutely no say in what style fence he puts up or how he installs it. in my area it is common for people to put a gate on a fence that faces a common area. the house my parent's used to rent when i was in my early teens had one. it opened to a ditch that ran behind the house. most houses on the street had one as well, and everyone simply put their leaves/lawn clippings behind the fence. of course, there were no nieghbors to the back either, just a bean field. do you have a fence around the rest of your property that connects to his fence? if this drainage area is truly neither of your properties, then you have no more right to use it as your yard than he does to use it as a dump. depending on local laws, he may even be fined heavily for dumping there. most drainage ditches are in easements, basically no man's land. usually, not always, but usually when a ditch seperates 2 properties the owners of each property are responsible for keeping it clean on their half. i think you should get a survey done, then put up your own fence at your property line to hide seeing his biodegradable trash. or learn to live with it, and simply throw anything that is not biodegradable back over the fence.
...See More
fences and neighbors...sheesh.
Q
Comments (59)
I agree with you Klimkm, We have a neighbor who always made a point to come on our property - daily - and then rub it in our face. He would brag how he had keys to our home with the prior owners. He would come and touch the garage hours after I painted it to see if it was dry, and then tell me about it later (and he's walking all the way across my lawn to do so). He was really upset when we moved some pavers that came a foot onto our property along the side of the garage. Then he was even more upset that we put up a fence, and literally for two years, every time we walked outside our house he was making a comment that we're trying to keep him out of our yard. Yeah, we are. Deal with it! He would complain that the lawn mower doesn't get all the grass along the fence, so not only does my husband mow what isn't our property on that side, but I also go over there and pull the grass along his side of the fence so I don't have to hear him complain. If I don't, he sprays grass killer and kills my plants in the process. He's an old, rude, chauvenistic man. Really nosey too, like creepy nosey. There were days that I'd check through my window to see if he was out there before I'd head to the garage, and I'd move swiftly because I was so tired of hearing his complaining. I think a lot of long time homeowners don't deal well with newcomers and are afraid of change, especially the older crowd. They are accustomed to having rights to property that doesn't belong to them, so when you block it off, they take it personally. I told my husband that I wanted to put the fence up right when we bought the place, but we waited. Looking back now, it would have been easier if we had done it right off the bat. That was the neighbor to the north of me. I'll call him Joe. The neighbor on the other side of me recently purchased the home, and we both agreed to fence on that side between the properties because she also has little dogs. The neighbor on the other side of her now complains to her about the fence she put up. He's an old retired guy too. The neighbor behind us basically threatened to replace OUR fence in the back - it was an old ranch style fence that went around the perimeter, but the previous owners stapled this ugly lattice work on it for privacy and put it this really shabby "patio" (if that's what you want to call it) back there. It did look bad, and I can only imagine how tired they were of looking at it, but at that time, we were planning a wedding, doing major remodeling on the interior of the home, I was taking care of a sick parent, and money only goes so far. Replacing the fence at that time was not a priority, and everyone in the neighborhood could see everything that we were doing with the place - we were complimented all the time. So, we put up some cheap, Home Depot wooden fence in the back and along the nosey neighbors side that very weekend that she threatened us with replacing OUR fence. It's ugly, but I don't care. I planted trees along the perimeter, and I don't have to look at it. I don't think that people should threaten homeowners with replacing their own property. In contrast, she has this ugly wooden, broken down playset that stands about 20 feet tall, and that's what we see when we look out into our back yard. The green tarp on the top of it became frayed over the winter, and we looked at that thing blowing around all season. It's horrendous. I miracle grow my trees in the back every week. They cannot grow fast enough. The same neighbor - we have about 3 feet between our garages in the back where her garage meets mine. We have our wood pile back there, and it does not go beyond our property line. We have about a foot back from the garage. She takes broken cinder block and throws it back there. There are chunks laying everywhere, and most recently she had a pile of unbroken cinder blocks up against my wood pile. I could not even access my woodpile (it is under a tarp). So, after having had problems with them in the past, we decided to send them a certified letter and kindly asked them to move the cinder block away from my property so I can access my woodpile, so as to "avoid potential injury" should I fall on those rocks. It was moved within a week. Damn right if I fall on those rocks my homeowners insurance is going after her homeowners insurance(there have been other problems with these same neighbors, and I can say with confidence that they do it intentionally).
...See More
Bad neighbor's bad fence row
Q
Comments (29)
OP said: "The largest tree has grown 2' into my property (I offered to cut it down when it was small, but she wouldn't let me)." Brickeye said: "And how can your neighbor refuse you access to your own yard to trim?" ---Where exactly did I say that the neighbor was refusing access to their own yard? Layman's terms: Neighbor A plants a tree. That tree grows onto neighbor B's property. Neighbor B wants to trim that portion of the tree which has encroached onto their property. Neighbor A refuses their right to do that. Note that, Neighbor B doesn't need to access neighbor A's property to trim it. It is legally neighbor B's right to trim the tree that crosses the property boundary. Neighbor A is attempting to infringe on Neighbor B's rights. This was the example I gave. I shared my situation, and I compared it to OP's situation. These are two different situations, with similarities. I shared the legal advice we were given by a reputable attorney. We're all here to share our opinions. I'm unclear what the problem is with sharing my viewpoints and opinions in the matter. "if you built in such a way you cannot get a bucket truck into your own yard that would be your problem" First, we didn't build. Second, I don't need a bucket truck as that's irrelevant to a neighbor refusing someone's homeowners rights. Third, Brickeye, why are you attacking me for sharing my opinions and sharing my own similar experiences? The Op asked for suggestions from others who have lived next to a person like this. I shared my experience with the OP. If you don't like the opinions I'm sharing with the OP, and can't respect Gardenweb's user policy, get off the thread.
...See More
Zero Lot Line Home.. Neighbor ruining new SOD!!
Q
Comments (42)
First, my wife grew up in a town of 18,000 (my wife corrected me, the county is 18,000 and the city is only a few thousand), and she absolutely hates going back because of the drama. We are building in a town of 28,000 and the constant conflict in the community is one of the big drawbacks. I certainly think conflict is different in larger cities, it is probably faster and more intense, while rural conflict might be somewhat less likely it is far more disruptive and lasts longer. Simply put there is less chance your neighbors are going to have any overlap with your circle of friends in larger cities. Second, do they really build zero lot line homes in rural areas? Finally, I don't see this change as being an indicative of being lost as a society. We are changing, it has been happening for a long time now, and it is hard to predict the future until it is the past. It is important to remember that good, honest, and educated members of society thought that segregation was the right thing to do, or that women getting the vote would destroy society. This change may sparks amazing things in the future, or terrible, it is impossible to predict. Edit: I think you assume me more metropolitan than I am. While I live in a fairly sizable city it is still on the small side. I am also the only member of my extended family to do so. Of my 14 aunts, uncles and cousins - I am the only nonfarmer. The reason being, I sold my farm to my uncle. While I am a city guy, I wasn't always.
...See More
beesneeds
last year
Well that garbage can fence went up fast, hehehe... sigh.

I like those bins with the trellises. If you can line the drive with them, it's a fence and somewhere nice to do a lot of gardening. And you can move or arrange them as desired.
marmiegard_z7b
last year
I agree with bluesky that your neighbor must derive some sort of energy and “ power” from her activity. If she were really feeling just a sort of “ exposure “ discomfort— which I could understand with the house and driveway placement- she might be placing something there or trying to dumper dive some planters herself, but not be doing all that parking maneuvers and exact middle thing.

One problem with the planter- trellis things is that they encroach further into your driveway and could make it unusable- certainly if you lined up very many of them. That’s why it’s good to noodle in the big picture. You might want a planter and trellis type thing to add beauty and a distraction rather than a precise barrier, hence it’s placement, or something else, might not even need to be on the enemy line.
3onthetree
last year
Your neighbor probably doesn't want to stare at overturned trash cans all the time, or will have to use some at some point, and the size of them makes her driveway unusable as well. So I would guess that she is getting her ducks in a row for a fence, just maybe not on your timeline, and currently she is just "training" you as ChrisNC said.

Just some thoughts that may or may not influence things:

Realize that she is respecting the prop line to the exact millimeter, which is better than what it has the potential to escalate to. Realize that both driveways at some point were poured at the same time in a joint effort. Realize that your neighbor has to use your yard to access anything about her exterior of the garage, because it looks to be on the prop line. Realize that a space in a parking lot is 9' wide (sometimes 8'), so consider the prop line to be a building wall, a concrete column in an underground parking garage, or edge of cliff and park your car so you can get out as you would in those situations.
Embothrium
last year
last modified: last year
Yesterday I searched property line disputes. Instructions given on multiple websites started with polite discussion with offending parties always being the first move. Regarding details of mariapia's situation it's already been established that it is a shared driveway with no room to erect a legal fence down the middle without losing part of one's own side due to a setback requirement. And that the neighbor has previously announced that they themselves were going to do some fencing. Only to ultimately be followed instead by the neighbor boxing mariapia in with their own car. Making me wonder therefore if the neighbor found out about the setback requirement after making their announcement, is now instead actually trying to manipulate mariapia into being the one that puts up a fence. And loses part of her own half of the no-room-to-spare drive in the process. With the added bonus (for the neighbor) of mariapia doing so also serving to widen the neighbor's half - in effect a sort of adverse possession using a parked automobile.
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
I can’t thank you guys enough. You gave me a lot of info and also many chuckles. HahHa
Legally she can put up a fence so can I
December 23rd I’m getting a land survey done. It’s pricey but it’s worth knowing which side of the brick is mine. I never thought I’d have to be this petty really.
She text me she can put a fence up and she will! when I text her that she blocked the truck in.
She doesn’t care about the house she killed the curb appeal all the grass and plants are dead trash everywhere and she doesn’t live in there she illegally rents out rooms on a daily rate. We live by the beach one of you guessed it right and we are a family oriented community most people on my street have lived here by generations very much so locals and pride of ownership exists minus Nextdoor lol. Anyways she ended up buying the house Nextdoor as well to her other house so she ruined the curb appeal on two properties. and she parks all cars on the one next to me just for fun 🙄 haha
Anyways knowing how she doesn’t spend money to make things look nice she text me she’s putting up a fence. I know it’ll be a chain link if she replaces the bins that’s why I’m looking for something cute. I will just spend the money. I have invested in changing my landscape because I now park 1 car in reverse and she can’t block the driver side. And I’m getting the survey done. At this point. I would put the thin separation on my side of the property line to just get over this petty crap. Really im over it Right now my house is 1000 sq ft 1950s original. In the future we want to put a 1 car garage in the front and add an upstairs on the 1000 Sq ft. Keep the same footprint. But we will do a modern style
So was thinking horizontal wood plank look separation ? I don’t know that’s why I need ideas. I love this group let me upload more pics

Put grass on side so I can now freely open driver side when I back the truck up

THANK YOU!!!!!!!
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
This is the old landscape honestly like the grass so a good thing came out of this
3onthetree
last year
last modified: last year
"no room to erect a legal fence down the middle without losing part of one's own side due to a setback requirement."

It was stated the city said there is no setback - the fence can be put flush on either side of the prop line (which establishes owner of fence) which is what would be the norm in this situation anywhere.

"Only to ultimately be followed instead by the neighbor boxing mariapia in with their own car."

Realize the neighbor is boxed in as well, just on the passenger side. What is happening is that the 2 houses have historically allowed use to exit your car on each other's driveway - now that is being retracted by the new owner. Nothing more. Common occurrence, and as OP states, most in the city have changed this historic interaction. This looks to be California, if you look at a satellite map of LA in many areas houses have single lane driveways divided by fences.

I personally would want a fence so an errant door doesn't ding my vehicle, or unaware kids riding their bikes in my driveway and scratching my vehicles. Doesn't make me a bad neighbor in and of itself.
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Yeah it’s crazy to even have to think of separation and prop lines. City told me we both legally can. She has over 9 ft to the brick and I have 8 1/2 lol. But when I remodel Putting a 1 car garage so no need for the issue in the long run. City told me that if she wants a fence do it get the bin drama and parking close over with.
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Parking close to me as I back in I don’t really care but yeah the possible hitting my car.
The trash bins are just plain ugly and I know I shouldn’t let it get to me but I want it to look nice
ptreckel
last year
Since you cannot use the space near your back fence to park your vehicle, especially given your neighbor’s decision to erect a barricade, I suggest two of your trellis/planters lined up with their backs aligned on the exact half of your side of the center line. Then, I would erect one of those tent canopies over the entire space, so that you are actually capturing a patio area there. The canopy could have hanging draperies to block the view of your neighbor’s side of the drive at that point. Then, park your vehicle near the bottom of your driveway. Is it prohibited to pave part of your front yard, converting it to a wider driveway towards the front? Just asking…. So sorry you are experiencing this!
mariapia47 thanked ptreckel
User
last year
What in h.e.l.l. Kind of nut lines her driveway with trash cans!!!!

Anyway.

I think the people saying just use the bottom half of the drive and convert the top to patio space have a great idea in theory, but I bet she will just start lining her trash bins further down. She seeks attention through drama, clearly. Good fences make good neighbors. Fence the whole length of driveway, as city will allow, and then buckle up for her next show of drama. But at least you won’t have to worry about her dinging your car on purpose
mariapia47 thanked User
KW PNW Z8
last year
@mariapia47 “But when I remodel Putting a 1 car garage so no need for the issue in the long run.” I’m confused by your revelation there - you’re adding a 1 car garage? Where? Behind your gated fence? When is this happening?
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Kw few years as interest rates are high and bound to go higher but itll go where front door is and front door will go other side of fireplace bit not a change that will immediately happen
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Thank you for the ideas 🙌🏽
elcieg
last year
There is something wrong with your neighbor...mental illness is a good guess. Her behavior is not normal. I wouldn't try to solve this issue by yourself. Her reaction could be dangerous.

I found this article and I hope it helps.

https://www.einhornlawyers.com/blog/real-estate/neighbor-fighting-common-driveway/
Sherry8aNorthAL
last year
Is it possible to put a circle drive in your front yard, matching it to the drive (brick bordered).
KW PNW Z8
last year
last modified: last year
@mariapia47 You didn’t mention if your remodel plan to add garage is something you wanted to do before new neighbor appeared on the scene or is because of the new neighbor. If the latter, that’s a really drastic and expensive action. I’ve no building or design qualifications but am wondering how you’d add a garage to front of your house and still have a driveway in front of it let alone a driveway long enough to meet code. Assuming the plan is for a front, street entry garage. I read the piece at link @elcieg provided - very interesting. I’m not sure why I’m so surprised your issue is so common that there’s a process for dealing with it. I’ve gone full circle on my thoughts about your situation & am back to suggesting you seek professional legal advice. I would absolutely gather all those photos up, make a written record of all conversations with the neighbor and make an appointment with an attorney to discuss this issue of infringement of your rights to use your own property. Whatever that costs is going to be far less than the cost of remodeling your home to accommodate her craziness. You might be pleasantly surprised by a for sale sign going up! This neighbor may have a history of odd behaviour.
Barbara Almandarz
last year
For a temporary solution, why not put your trash cans right up to hers, but on your property? Make it inconvenient for her to access her trash cans. I assume you already talked to them about this? Long term a plastic movable fence situation should do the trick.
Sherry8aNorthAL
last year
These metal fence panels look easy to use You could start with a few and keep adding on as needed.

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=metal+fence&inStock=1&rollUpVariants=0
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Thank you for the ideas!
KW Yes the plan to remodel has been on the table before she ever moved in. But maybe expediting the process. By getting land survey now.
And yes someone like this I’m
Guessing hasn’t been a charming neighbor ever 😳.
The added grass on the side is working out great.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
last year
Google images of vinyl fence panels. Should get all kinds of options.
pricklypearcactus
last year
Your neighbor is obviously being a passive aggressive jerk. I'm sorry you're going through this. Unfortunately no matter what you do, if the driveway up by the house is not wide enough to park and exit your vehicle without stepping on her part of the driveway, you are at risk of getting blocked from accessing your vehicle no matter what. I think your plan to widen the part of the driveway in front of your house to make parking feasible is the smart solution.

Regarding a fence, I do think you have to ask yourself whether the fence serves you or not. Putting up a fence is not going to make it any easier to park in the space because now there is a permanent structure blocking your driver side door (instead of your passive aggressive neighbor). So it doesn't fix your parking situation. If you're hoping to add some privacy and physical separation from your neighbor, then you probably need a solid (rather than see through) fence.

And if you're going to install a fence, you need to get a survey done to make sure you're putting it on what is legally your property. Keepin mind that generally you need to sink fence posts that are going to be wider than the fence itself and since it's a driveway, you'll probably have to be careful to only damage your side of the driveway in the install.
Embothrium
last year
last modified: last year
If you're hoping to add some privacy and physical separation from your neighbor, then you probably need a solid (rather than see through) fence.

And if you're going to install a fence, you need to get a survey done to make sure you're putting it on what is legally your property. Keepin mind that generally you need to sink fence posts that are going to be wider than the fence itself and since it's a driveway, you'll probably have to be careful to only damage your side of the driveway in the install.

Yep.
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Update survey is done whole brick is my side and so is part of her fence wheel 😊 anyways ordered a horizontal vinyl fence in gray From a large local family owned fence company
Thank you guys for the help and advice also the laughs 😊😊😊
marmiegard_z7b
last year
Interesting indeed!
Hope you later post pics of fence. Good luck!
Christopher CNC
last year
Since the brick divider is all yours, that will make setting fence posts easier. Hopefully the bricks are not set in the concrete.
Sherry8aNorthAL
last year
Don't you just love karma. She has cheated herself out of the width of the brick.
Stacey
last year
I am so sorry you had to go all through this with your new neighbor. Your perseverance paid off! Happy Holidays!
pricklypearcactus
last year
Glad that the survey results came back in your favor! Hope the fence helps give you some peace with your neighbor.
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Thank you guys want to give you all a big hug. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 happy holidays
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
last year
Here are a few suggestions:
doods
last year
Interesting post, hope you do post pictures after your fence is installed. Best to you!
tozmo1
last year
These neighbor dispute threads are always so interesting. I saw this @mariapia47: "She doesn’t care about the house...she doesn’t live in there she illegally rents out rooms on a daily rate."

If this is true, are you fighting the wrong battle? If renting is what is enabling her to own the property and she's doing that illegally, then get rid of the source of her property income and she'll probably sell.

All the best to you!
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
It got juicer she’s not moving anything now need to send a letter from an attorney that if she doesn’t open her gate and move her car to let us be able to put the fence in our property line it needs to get towed. Ontop of it. She now installed a camera looking straight into my “private” backyard. Police can’t do anything about it. They can’t tell her to point it down. My anxiety is thru the roof with this neighbor. I feel at a loss. Sadly
KW PNW Z8
last year
This sounds like harrassment, I think @tozmo1 has a point - if her daily rental deal is illegal - and what’s that about anyway? Nothing good comes to mind. But seems like entire neigborhood would join in on fighting that deal.
julierjohnson
last year
I would love to see the after. Good luck!
olychick
last year
I know you probably cannot install a fence high enough to block her view of your yard, (a different fence than the driveway fence, but you might easily be able to erect some sun sail screens that will block the camera view.
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Sorry its been hectic had not logged in I love that! we did something with outdoor curtains waiting to see if code enforcement comes out
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Attorney sent letter notifying that monday Jan 30th is the install date of the fence…..lets see what happens in the meantine painted brick cheapest thing to do to freshen it up since im already too much into this ordeal 😢
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
This is the vinyl only color avail other than white without a long wait photo taken indoors in showroom
Sigrid
last year
She now installed a camera looking straight into my “private” backyard. Police can’t do anything about it. They can’t tell her to point it down.

Put a bird house on a pole right in front of the camera. You don't even need to make it a real birdhouse. JJust put one with no back close enough to box in the camera. As long as your birdhouse is on your property, it's legal. I'd make the birdhouse moveable, in case she moves the camera.

You can make the birdhouse attractive, so it's a feature.
doods
last year
mariapia ... thanks for keeping us updated. I like the bricks painted grey. Are you going with the grey fence?
tozmo1
last year
I like the grey fence better than a white one. White vinyl fences get dirty looking very fast.
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
Yes unfortunately the true gray one with black mixed in it was a very long wait. This one has a bit of everything cream tan brown & grey
But yes better than white. Just hoping it goes smooth
tozmo1
last year
@mariapia47 Those colors sound even better! No matter the color of the dirt that adheres to it, it won't be visible. Win, win!
mariapia47
Original Author
last year
True I will update soon thank you guys
Paul F.
last year
last modified: last year
Make her shorten her gate by the width of that wheel.
doods
last year
@mariapia47 ... how did it go, do you have your fence in?