Neighbor law: fences, trees, boundaries & noise

1413307515......Page 1
Table of Contents......Page 13
Introduction: Neighbors and Legal Questions......Page 18
1. Tackling a Neighbor Problem......Page 22
Get Prepared......Page 23
Approach the Neighbor......Page 32
Turn to the Authorities for Help......Page 38
Try Mediation......Page 39
Take the Neighbor to Court......Page 40
2. Noise......Page 44
Laws Against Noise......Page 45
What to Do......Page 56
3. When a Tree Is Injured or Destroyed......Page 64
An Owner’s Rights When a Tree Is Damaged......Page 66
What the Tree Owner Can Sue For......Page 67
Criminal Penalties......Page 76
What to Do If a Neighbor Damages Your Tree......Page 77
Preventing Damage......Page 84
4. Encroachment: Invading Branches and Roots......Page 88
Looking for Help......Page 90
Trimming a Neighbor’s Tree: The Right of Self-Help......Page 92
When a Neighbor Can Sue......Page 98
Going to Court......Page 101
5. Unsound Limbs and Trees......Page 104
Getting Help From the City Government......Page 106
Trimming a Neighbor’s Tree: The Right of Self-Help......Page 107
Ask the Owner to Trim the Tree......Page 108
Suing to Prevent Damage......Page 110
Homeowners’ Insurance......Page 111
After Damage From an Unsound Tree......Page 112
6. Boundary Trees......Page 120
Ownership......Page 121
Co-Owners’ Responsibilities......Page 125
Damage to or Removal of a Boundary Tree......Page 131
7. Fruit and Nuts: Who Owns What?......Page 140
Who Owns the Tree?......Page 141
Fruit That Has Fallen......Page 145
Avoiding Problems......Page 146
8. Obstruction of View......Page 148
The Basic Rule: No Right to a View......Page 150
View Ordinances......Page 151
Subdivision Rules That Protect Views......Page 158
Other Laws That May Protect Views......Page 162
Views That Are Not Legally Protected......Page 167
Avoiding View Problems......Page 170
9. Boundary Lines......Page 174
Settling Uncertain Boundary Lines......Page 175
When a Neighbor Doesn’t Honor the Boundary......Page 186
10. Using Another\'s Land: Trespass and Easements......Page 190
Trespassers Who Become Owners......Page 191
Easements......Page 200
11. Fences......Page 212
Rural Areas: Fencing Livestock In or Out......Page 213
Urban Fences......Page 215
Property Line (Boundary) Fences......Page 225
Disputes Over Boundaries......Page 237
Sharing a Fence That Is Not on the Boundary......Page 238
12. Spite Fences......Page 242
General Restrictions on Fence Height......Page 243
What Is a Spite Fence?......Page 245
Negotiating With the Neighbor......Page 247
Going to Court......Page 248
13. Dangers to Children: Attractive Nuisances......Page 262
The Attractive Nuisance Doctrine......Page 263
Taking Necessary Precautions......Page 267
Seeking Legal Help......Page 270
14. Rural Neighbors and the Right to Farm......Page 272
Ordinary Nuisance Rules......Page 273
Right-to-Farm Laws......Page 274
What Neighbors Can Do......Page 277
15. Water......Page 282
When the Neighbor Is Liable for Damage......Page 284
When the Neighbor May Not Be Liable for Damage......Page 289
What the Neighbor at Fault Must Pay For......Page 294
What to Do If You Suffer Water Damage......Page 295
Rights to Water......Page 300
16. When Your Neighbor Is a Business......Page 306
Zoning Laws......Page 309
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions......Page 313
Home-Based Businesses......Page 314
Other Laws Protecting You and Your Property......Page 317
Expect a Compromise......Page 323
What to Do When the Law Favors You......Page 324
When the Law Favors the Business......Page 329
17. Other Common Neighbor Issues......Page 332
Blighted Property......Page 333
Weeds, Rubbish, and Garbage......Page 334
Drug Dealers......Page 335
Child Predators (Megan’s Law)......Page 336
Animal Problems......Page 338
Secondhand Smoke......Page 340
Outdoor Lights......Page 342
18. Legal Research......Page 344
Local Laws......Page 345
State Statutes......Page 348
Case Law......Page 355
19. Mediation......Page 366
What Is Mediation?......Page 367
How to Find a Mediator......Page 368
How Mediation Works......Page 369
20. Small Claims Court......Page 376
What Is Small Claims Court?......Page 377
Preparing for Small Claims Court......Page 379
How Small Claims Court Works......Page 380
A. State Statutes on Injury to Trees......Page 386
How Much an Owner Can Sue For......Page 387
Fines or Jail Sentences for Damaging a Tree......Page 388
B. State Statutes on Private Nuisance......Page 390
Common Law Definition......Page 391
Conduct or Condition Must Be Unlawful or Unreasonable......Page 392
C. Boundary Fence Statutes......Page 394
D. Adverse Possession Statutes......Page 398
E. Right-to-Farm Statutes......Page 402
Index......Page 406