Neighbor Took It Upon Themselves To Paint Your Fence? Here's What You Can Do

What is more infuriating than glancing out your window and realizing your neighbor has decided to play decorator on your property? You have to believe that they thought they were being helpful (or maybe they just hated the color) but either way, the sight of a freshly repainted fence will probably spark both confusion and, honestly, irritation. The good news in this situation is that the law is usually on your side. In order to determine your rights, you need to figure out who actually owns the fence. The boundary line should be marked on your property deed or survey. If the fence is entirely in your land, then it's yours, and your neighbor had no right to alter it. In this case, you now have grounds to ask them to restore it to the original condition. On the other hand, if it is a shared fence, then ownership gets a bit trickier. Usually, both parties would have needed to agree to changes prior to them being carried out.

Fences are a great way to add some privacy to your yard, yet they can quickly create tension when boundaries get blurred (literally). Before rushing to call a lawyer, consider starting with calmly talking to your neighbor, as they may not have even realized they had crossed a line. Then, if and when the situation escalates, you should document all conversations and evidence in case you need to prove your case at a later date.

The key takeaway here is that your neighbor isn't allowed to paint your fence without your consent. If you were wondering if you can just re-paint your side of your neighbor's fence if it only faces your property, then prior communication is recommended. If the paint has lowered your fence's value or violated local property codes, it is within reason to request repairs or compensation. It's also smart to contact your local building department to verify boundary laws before taking further action. These disputes are handled differently in different areas, so a quick check is in your best interest to save you time and stress.

It the situation escalates, then mediation services or small claims court will be the next step to settle things. No one wants it to come to that, however, especially since you probably have to see your neighbors most days. Generally speaking, the best advice for getting along with difficult neighbors is to set these boundaries early, write your agreements down, and make sure everyone knows where the property line is.