I'm upset that my neighbor is trashing the area by putting up a fence with t posts!?

Question

We do live in a rural area, we each have 200 ft of frontage and all our lots are at least 5 acres. So when my neighbor started putting up a fence around their front yard I didn't think much of it. They started with round posts and now they are putting up T posts! I can't believe it. We have NICE homes. The home my neighbor lives in is older and is probably a $200,000- home. The house right next to her is newer and is probably about a $500,000- home as is mine. They certainly aren't mansions but t posts? I run a boarding stable from my home. I am very cautious and make certain things are kept very nice. I don't do anything (not even to the common fence) without first discussing it with my neighbors and then I do everything I can to make things nice for all of us. Granted, I have more at stake than anyone else. Would you be upset too? I wasn't upset when I thought she was putting up a nice wooden three rail fence or something similar.

The rest of us, if we have fences at all have made a point to make our fences the all the same, we all have three rail wooden fences. I'm not uppity, I wasn't raised with money but I have worked my butt off to get my nice home and make a nice business. I don't want to lose business because of her!

A t post is a metal post that you hammer into the ground, then you put wire on it, it's basically a cattle fence. She put it up for her kids.

This neighbor is a nuisance period! I just got a call this morning from another neighbor telling me that yesterday when she and her family were eating dinner they heard voices. Upon investigating they found the two neighbor kids ages 2 and 4 in their basement, just then here came the crazy neighbor who is putting up the fence looking for her kids. They had snuck into the house!

Answer 1

I'd definitely be upset. My home value is partly based on the neighboring houses, so if someone wanted to do something ugly and ridiculous like putting up cattle fencing in the front then I'd be rightfully pissed. Who would want to buy a house next to an eyesore?? I can't believe those people are so tacky. I grew up rural too and front yard fences were decorative only, if you even had one. Those that needed to corral their kids (which sounds like these yahoos) or animals did so in the back part of the house where it was respectfully out of sight....

Wait. Livestock fencing?

See if there's a zoning right or restriction to raising livestock on the frontage areas of your neighborhood. This is a long shot but worth a try. If their only putting up wire fencing to keep the kids in line then I'm really sorry that you have them as neighbors.

Answer 2

Many families are stretched thin with the purchase of an expensive house and maybe that's all they can afford. If it's really a problem for you, maybe a few neighbors could contribute and fence the yard for them. That would be a real blessing for someone who can't afford a fancy fence but fears looking bad in the neighborhood.

Not sure where you live, but a $200K home here is pretty much an old meth lab in a gang infested area. You're very fortunate to have affordable housing.

If the family is not able to put up a more suitable fence for you, the only thing you can do is to move beyond it and ignore it.

Answer 3

He has the right to put up any fence anyway he likes. It's a matter of preference/perception... and probably cost was a factor as well, since you mentioned he has a lesser home than you. Maybe he thinks your fence is ugly too ?! (preference/perception)

Anyway, there is nothing you can do about it. I understand your feeling....it's like a neighbor painting their house neon lime green. It's a eyesore in my opinion.....but it's legal, so you can't stop it.

That's America. People have the right to poor taste and bad judgement.

Answer 4

Your very lucky to have such a nice home. I do know how you feel. Our home is in the $500 range also. And it literally makes me sick what is happening to our area.People are putting up fences faster than you can blink. It wouldn't be so bad if they were similar, but they put up chain link fences, than wrought iron fences, than cheep made out of anything fences,than chain link again. It looks like sh-t! The area looks like sh-t! It makes the area trashy and the city won't do anything about it. I hate it. I know how you feel, do something or more will follow.Check into your city codes. Good luck, I sure haven't had any. Bye

Answer 5

Unless you have convenants that allow you and your neighbors to control how another person treats their property you're out of luck. Too bad you don't like their fence, maybe its all they can afford, and maybe its what appeared to be most effective.

I'm fencing in my back yard right now because one of my neighbors objects to the dogs by throwing chicken bones into my back yard. I really don't give a dayum whether he likes the fence or not.

I don't approve of cookie cutter neighborhoods, where each house looks just like the last. It's actually one of my nightmares that my neighbors all have the same houses. How will I find my way home when I get senile?

Answer 6

unless you have a home's association that has a set of policies regarding fencing, there is not much you can do. I'm not familiar with the style of fence you are refering to. Can you post a link to an example image?

Answer 7

Sorry to hear about you problem. My nieghbors have not complained. But then again they are the ones that built the 200 plus houses accross from my doublewide with a couple cars that come and go through my yard that run or may not. Did you buy near these people or they near you? You can always call the local building dept. and see if they are codes or if they need a permit they they do not have. You should've bought in a place that has restrictions about this kind of stuff.

Answer 8

You have every right to want the aesthetics in your neighborhood to remain on the same footing as the rest of your community. However, you have no right to tell a neighbor how or what they should put up. Obviously you have a different standard as to what would look best. Is there a neighborhood association or a community council that can mediate on your behalf? Maybe your neighbor is unaware that it is proper etiquette to discuss this with those in the surrounding vicinity. In either case, handling this in an amiable fashion is best. Cool down first before you proceed. Remember a lot can be resolved with a little graciousness.

Answer 9

You should contact your zoning commitee. There may be rules for what they can or can't put up. Is the fence right on the property line?If so,I believe it belongs to you too. Could you put another fence next to that one to avoid seeing it?

Answer 10

WOW, glad I don't have an uppity neighbor like you! I live in a small town and have a 1/4 acre lot and I put up t-post and wire fencing to keep my dog in! ! ! ! My neighbors didn't say anything and we are good friends. Sometimes people can't afford expensive fencing but still want to keep their animals in their yard!

Just be glad she didn't put in pigs! An acquaintance of mine was mad at her neighbor and put in a small barn and pigs right next to her!