What are general backyard privacy laws?

Question

My sister's Neighbor is complaining that my 9 yr old niece makes to much noise in the backyard during the day. She also complained and demanded that my sister take down the playset that sits above the fence... ALL playsets sit above fences, every other neighbor around my sister's house has one. The kids in the yard in the back of my sister's climb theirs and wave to her all the time, they are not hurting anyone! Any how, can this woman do anything legal to make my sister take the playset down?

Answer 1

She probably can't do anything legally unless there is some type of noise ordanance. We live in Virginia, and the local municipality has an ordinance prohibiting excessive noise before 8am and after 8pm. Anything in between is pretty much open.

If your sister lives in an area with a home owners association, there may be covenants which would prohibit her from having the play set, but it doesn't sound like it based on the number of neighbors who do have one.

Has your sister tried to talk to her neighbor to find out if there is a specific reason which is causing this? (ie, is someone in the house sick and in need of rest? does someone work night shift and is trying to sleep?) If that is the case, it would be courteous of your sister to use this as an example of showing respect and help someone through a difficult time. It could also be that her neighbor is just a miserable ol' cuss that should get a life. Either way, a heart-to-heart chat may help solve the problem, but it sounds like it has moved past that point.

Good luck to your sister. Not a fun situation to be in.

Answer 2

David M is exactly right. I'll add that the neighbor sounds like an old hag that hates kids. Tell the kids to have fun - it's one of the happiest sounds in the world.

Answer 3

nothing she tried to do could be legally backed up.