u/AintNoBuffet

Previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/neighborsfromhell/comments/1v8c8hv/neighbors_family_and_workers_are_treating_our/

Hello everyone,

My previous post received far more comments and suggestions than I expected, so thank you to everyone who took the time to respond. It became impossible to reply to everyone individually, but I wanted to provide an update and clarify a few things.

Here are some better pictures showing the layout of the properties and what we are dealing with: https://imgur.com/a/xJ11ToP

Here is footage of people riding ATVs through our property: https://imgur.com/a/j02GRBt

One important clarification is that it is not always members of this family or their workers cutting through our yard. Sometimes it is random people using our property as a shortcut to the main road. I would estimate that roughly 10 to 20 percent of the foot and bicycle traffic involves people who do not appear to live or work at the neighboring property.

Because of that, asking the owner to tell his family and workers to stop would help, but it would not completely solve the problem.

The most common suggestion was to get a survey and install a fence. I agree that a survey is necessary before making any changes, but fencing alone unfortunately would not prevent people from cutting through. Based on the city’s strict fencing restrictions and the layout of the properties, there would still be an opening of approximately 25 to 30 feet. The pictures above should give a better idea of why fencing by itself would not fully close off the route.

Other common suggestions included shrubs, large boulders, no trespassing signs, and a wire or chain between two posts.

Dense shrubs could eventually close the opening, but we would need approximately 30 feet of them, which would be very expensive. I am also concerned that someone might eventually damage or remove part of them to preserve the shortcut. There are also deer that come through the area which adds another wrinkle to planting shrubs. It is still an option, but probably not the simplest immediate solution.

Large boulders would likely stop bicycles, dirt bikes, and ATVs from passing through that area. They would not prevent people from walking through, but they could be effective when combined with fencing or landscaping.

No trespassing signs might discourage some of the random walkers and cyclists, but I doubt signs alone would stop people who already know they are crossing private property. A visible chain or wire with a no trespassing sign between two posts would create an actual barrier and make the shortcut much less convenient. That is something I am seriously considering as it would stop them from riding through at least.

For now, my plan is to speak with the owner the next time I see him outside. I intend to approach the conversation calmly and tell him that I do not know whether he is aware of it, but people on his property have been riding ATVs and dirt bikes through our yard. I will show him the footage and explain that his workers and family also regularly use our driveway and yard as a shortcut.

I also want to explain that this has become a safety and privacy concern, especially because my wife and I are planning to start a family. We have had groups of kids walking up our driveway and congregating near our property late at night, and now the ATVs have taken the situation to another level.

I am going to judge his reaction before mentioning fences, barriers, cameras, signs, or any other steps. I do not want to immediately turn this into a hostile dispute if a reasonable conversation could resolve most of it.

One possible long term solution would be asking whether he would sell us a narrow section of the adjoining property. Because that area is the rear of his lot rather than the front of ours, purchasing it might allow us to install a fence in a location that actually blocks the shortcut. I realize that could involve surveying, zoning, parcel adjustments, and significant expense, so it is only an idea at this point.

At the moment, I am leaning toward this order:

1. Speak with the owner and show him the footage.
2. Have the property professionally surveyed.
3. Install cameras and clearly visible no trespassing signs.
4. Add a temporary physical barrier where legally permitted.
5. Consider fencing, boulders, shrubs, or purchasing a small section of the neighboring land depending on his response.

I really appreciate all of the suggestions so far. The biggest challenge is finding a solution that addresses the ATVs, bikes, foot traffic, and random people cutting through while still complying with the city’s fencing rules. I am still trying to figure out the best way to handle it, so I would definitely appreciate any other ideas or suggestions, especially from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.

My wife and I bought our home a little over a year ago, and the situation with the neighboring property has gradually become more frustrating and concerning.

The setup is unusual. The same family owns approximately six to eight houses near us and uses several of the lots for a large greenhouse and flower shop operation, even though the surrounding land is residential. Our house is located on a dead end and sits perpendicular to one of their lots, which is essentially a 1.5-acre field with a small abandoned house near the front.

Because of the layout, cutting through our yard gives their workers, family members, friends, and visitors a much quicker route between the end of the public street and their property. Otherwise, they would have to walk all the way around the subdivision. I attached a link showing the layout: https://imgur.com/a/YKsW3GQ

At first, it was mostly an occasional person walking or riding a bicycle through our yard, maybe once a week. It now happens several times a week and sometimes involves larger groups of kids walking directly up our driveway and through our front or side yard as though it is a public pathway.

This weekend, it escalated when they began riding ATVs and dirt bikes through our property to access the public street, leaving visible tracks in the grass.

None of this happened last summer. The lot was basically empty and quiet at all times. The owner is a nice guy, but it appears that his kids, nephews, workers, or their friends have recently started using the field as a place to hang out and ride once or twice a week.

They sometimes ride ATVs and dirt bikes around the field for hours, often traveling what appears to be 30 to 40 mph directly toward our house before turning and continuing their loops. They regularly come within roughly 10 feet of what we believe is the property line. Most of the riders appear to be high school age, although some may be older than 18 and others are clearly younger. We have also seen them riding on the residential street with as many as three kids on one ATV, all without helmets.

This weekend, the ATVs crossed through our actual yard to reach the street. Even when they remain on the neighboring property, their speed and proximity make us uncomfortable being outside. It would not take much for someone to lose control and crash into our yard, our house, or someone standing outside.

Groups of teenagers also frequently gather near the end of the lot and the dead end. At one point, six to eight of them were sitting in or around our driveway while riding e-bikes up and down the street at what appeared to be 30 to 40 mph. They have also lit fireworks in the field approximately 40 to 50 feet from our house. There appears to be very little supervision or concern about how any of this affects the surrounding homes.

One complication is that the exact property line is unclear. It appears that the previous owners may have placed part of a garden bed directly on or very close to the line. When I first met the property owner, I mentioned that I was unsure where his land ended. He simply told me, “Cut as much as you want and I’ll take care of the rest,” gave me a thumbs-up, and continued mowing.

The area I mow definitely extends onto his property, but I have never minded because I have a riding mower and it keeps the area looking better. The previous owners of our house also loved this family and told us at closing that the owner would even allow us to put tents in the field for parties as long as we asked.

That is what makes this difficult. I do not want to create a feud with someone who has always been friendly and generous. I also worry that if I complain, he may suddenly become strict about the property line or take issue with the portion I currently mow.

At the same time, I do not think we should have to accept groups of teenagers sitting in our driveway, strangers repeatedly cutting through our yard, or kids riding ATVs and dirt bikes across our property and through the neighborhood at high speeds.

My wife and I are also beginning to think about starting a family, and the situation makes me nervous about eventually having a young child outside. I cannot imagine feeling comfortable playing in the yard with a child while ATVs and dirt bikes are speeding toward the house only a short distance away.

I know the obvious first step is probably a calm conversation with the owner, but I want to handle it properly without damaging what has otherwise been a good relationship.

I have considered putting up a fence, but fences in my city cannot extend past the front of the house, so it would not completely prevent people from cutting through. I have also thought about putting up a no-trespassing sign, although I am not convinced a sign alone would stop a group of teenagers. I do have cameras already installed and have already started saving all of the footage of these incidents.

Does anyone have advice on how to handle a situation like this?