Neighbor installs fencing on single dad's property without his permission, expects him to pay $2000 to split the cost evenly: ‘I honestly could probably sue him’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Mar 15, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

It's about that time again, friends. The weather is warming up, and the lawns are greening… neighborhood feuds are imminent. As the leaves grow back and weigh their tree's branches down, expect some property line and fencing debacles. Whether the neighbor feud is your fault or your pesky neighbor's, expect us to write about it. Shared driveway arguments, lawn mower incidents, and the like are what makes folks decide to save up for acres of land away from others.

What happened to keeping your hands to your own property? It seems like nobody wants to follow the golden rule—treat other property the way you want your property treated—any longer. The single dad in this next story is expected to cough up $2000 for a fence that he did not permit. His neighbor is adamant he pay it, despite not communicating with him about the fence aside from one time eight months prior…

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  • Now, property lines are a big deal when it comes to neighbor feuds like this. If this neighbor actually went over the shared property line onto this guy's property, then he is not only subject to pay the entire $4000 fence job, but he also might have landed himself in hot water with the law if this guy wants to take legal action. In his words, he “doesn't care about burning bridges”. I think the neighbor is barking up the wrong tree. Scroll to get the details.

  • "I really don't care about burning bridges with this neighbor."
    via mark for Unsplash

  • "Neighbor installed new fencing on my property w/o permission & wants me to pay half."

    My fencing on his side was rotting and falling down in places. Sure, it needed replacing/repairing. We had a
    via TreeTestPass
  • couple conversations about replacing/repairing it. He was pressuring me to get it done. He mentioned us splitting it and my response was yeah I would
    via TreeTestPass
  • consider paying half. I told him to send me something in writing. He never did. I just basically stopped talking to him about it. It's not
    via TreeTestPass
  • required I have a fence. It was here when I bought the house. I'm not in a position to afford replacing non essential repairs. I'm a single dad.
    via TreeTestPass
  • Fast forward a few months and he just had it replaced without mentioning it again. Mind you, it's on my property. It's my fence. He never sent me anything in writing.
    via TreeTestPass
  • Cheezburger Image 10480045568
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Never mentioned it for nearly 8 months. When the contractor was working, I asked who authorized it. The neighbor did. This was in December.
    via TreeTestPass
  • Today, March 12, he saw me in my yard, while I was 6 feet up a tree while trimming it and yells at me from below. He asked me if I was gonna pay up to my half. Told me it was $2,000. I told him I would text him something.
    via TreeTestPass
  • I don't want to pay him. I honestly could probably sue him for putting the fence on my property without permission.
    via TreeTestPass
  • What would you do? How should I handle this?I really don't care about burning bridges with this neighbor. He's aj . Always has been.
    via TreeTestPass
  • NokieBear Does your state have a good neighbor fence law? In California we do. Basically, in order for neighbors to share the cost of the fence, you must notify the neighbor 30 days in advance with the proposal. Neighbor can agree or not. There are several
    via NokieBear
  • acceptable reasons to exempt the neighbor from paying their half, such as lack of funds. The paying neighbor could attempt to take the other neighbor to small claims court, but good luck, doesn't mean the court will settle in their favor. And in your case, there was no written notice, so I think you're off the hook.
    via NokieBear
  • Check to see if your state has the good neighbor fence law. Then use it as your reason for not paying. I'd also look into the property line situation. Why is he building on your property? How much of your property is on his side of the fence? You may want to get the fence moved. Why pay taxes on your land that he's using.
    via NokieBear
  • DreadPickle Tell him to get his sh off your property. Go hard, go all the way. Make him put it on his side of the property line. Go 100% off the rails with it.
    via DreadPickle
  • Legal-Lingonberry577 Tell him you're going to sue him for building a fence on your property but you're willing to settle for $2,000.
    via Legal-Lingonberry577
  • Rapidfire1960 You owe him nothing. Legally, he had no right to touch a fence on your property. Tell him to pound sand. Call the police if necessary.
    via Rapidfire1960
  • Jealous-Friendship34 Thanks for the new fence!
    via Jealous-Friendship34
  • goshidontknow1395 Get a survey done and if the fence is way over the property line, I'd make him tear it down.
    via goshidontknow1395
  • monstereatspilot He's the one that authorized it, he's the one on the hook for the money. W
    via monstereatspilot
  • shotstraight You owe him nothing, and he already burnt the bridge not you.
    via shotstraight
  • Prestigious-Use4550 You should most definitely start documenting every interaction with this person. NOT having it in writing will only make things more difficult when he takes you to court for payment you don't owe. Document, document, document.
    via Prestigious-Use4550

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feud neighbors neighborhood fence neighborhood-drama bad neighbors neighborhood-stories reddit story terrible neighbors property reddit thread Bad Neighbor Reddit entitled people neighbor
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