'It would otherwise be empty...' Homeowner discovers neighbor has been parking his SUV on his driveway while he's at work, so he installs a parking bollard and gets called 'passive aggressive'

Author image for Celeste Mello
Celeste Mello • Writer and Editor
Jun 14, 2026 6:00 PM EDT

Just because a driveway is empty doesn't mean anyone who's not the owner is entitled to use it. Why do people take advantage of a neighbor's kindness? Borrowing your driveway once to your neighbor doesn't mean you gave them an open invitation to use it whenever they please. People need to ask for permission. If something doesn't belong to you, you ask the owner first. Otherwise, you're using someone else's property without consent.  

It's great to have a friendly relationship with your neighbors and help each other when needed. If you're hosting relatives and your neighbor lets them use his driveway, that's really considerate, and most people would appreciate that gesture. But in today's story, this homeowner gave an inch, and his neighbors took a mile. 

'It would otherwise be empty' is not a valid explanation for using someone else's property without even asking. Property rights are not based on whether something is currently being used. By that logic, any empty backyard can be considered fair game while the owner is away, and everyone knows the world doesn't work that way.  

These neighbors asked once and then assumed the homeowner wouldn't mind them using his driveway every day while he was at work. The problem is that they never had an actual conversation about it. And of course, the homeowner eventually noticed what was happening. The worst part is not the lack of permission to use his property, but the lack of respect for him. Instead of asking him directly, they thought he probably wouldn't notice because he was away all day, so they kept using his driveway without talking about it. 

The homeowner's solution was simple and smart. Instead of arguing, he put up a clear physical boundary that delivered the message for him. The parking bollard made his property rights impossible to ignore. Sometimes, that's the point you have to reach for people to respect your boundaries.

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  • 01
    This model illustrates a homeowner calling his neighbor after finding an SUV parked in his driveway.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    This model illustrates a homeowner calling his neighbor after finding an SUV parked in his driveway. 

  • 02

    AITA for stopping my neighbor from using my driveway while I was at work?

    I (40M) live alone in a detached house on a fairly narrow street. I've lived here for just over 8 years and generally get along with most of my neighbors.
    via cometnohana
  • 03
    About 2 years ago, a new neighbor moved in across the street. She's 34F, divorced, and has two kids (8 and 11). We aren't friends exactly, but we're friendly enough to wave, chat occasionally, and take each other's bins in if one of us is away.
    via cometnohana
  • 04
    I work in an office and leave around 7:15am most mornings. I usually don't get home until around 6pm.
    via cometnohana
  • 05
    A few months ago, she asked if one of her relatives could use part of my driveway for a weekend because they were visiting and street parking was difficult. I said sure.
    via cometnohana
  • 06
    A representation of a homeowner's unused driveway next to a neighbor's crowded driveway with two parked cars.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    A representation of a homeowner's unused driveway next to a neighbor's crowded driveway with two parked cars.

  • 07
    A few weekends later, I noticed another car in my driveway. I assumed it was related to the same situation and didn't think much of it.
    via cometnohana
  • 08
    Then it started happening more often. Eventually I realized that whenever I was at work, her boyfriend was parking in my driveway instead of on the street. The thing is, nobody had actually asked me.
    via cometnohana
  • 09
    I only found out because one day I had to leave work early due to a migraine and came home around noon. His SUV was parked there. He wasn't visiting her. He had apparently left his car there and gone with her somewhere else.
    via cometnohana
  • 10
    I went over and asked about it. She apologized and said she assumed I wouldn't mind because I was at work anyway and the driveway would otherwise be empty.
    via cometnohana
  • 11
    A homeowner waiting for his neighbor to move their car so that he can park in his own driveway.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    A homeowner waiting for his neighbor to move their car so that he can park in his own driveway, represented by a model. 

  • 12
    I told her that wasn't really the point. It's still my property and I'd prefer people ask before using it. She seemed annoyed and said she didn't understand why I cared if nobody was being inconvenienced.
    via cometnohana
  • 13
    After that conversation I installed a folding parking bollard at the entrance of my driveway. Nothing expensive, just enough that someone couldn't pull straight in.
    via cometnohana
  • 14
    This model depicts a parking bollard used to block a neighbor's access to a homeowner's private driveway while he's away at work.
    via Unsplash+ (Honney Artkongham)

    This model depicts a parking bollard used to block a neighbor's access to a homeowner's private driveway while he is away at work.

  • 15
    The next evening she knocked on my door and said the bollard was "passive aggressive" and made her feel like I was treating her family like criminals.
    via cometnohana
  • 16
    A couple of neighbors think I'm being territorial over an empty driveway. Others think she crossed a line by helping herself to it.
    via cometnohana
  • 17
    ScrappyD420 NTA. Entitlement here is the problem. People are way too entitled today and unfortunately it's only gonna get worse until we all start holding everyone accountable. I would have had his suv towed tbh. No way. It's your property your mortgage your tax bill. If she wants extra parking charge OP. Hawaii and most urban areas range from 200-500/mo for a parking stall. Tell her if she wants to use half your driveway it's X-amount of dollars to rent the space Edit: Hawaii is the 500 and abo
    via ScrappyD420
  • 18
    Inevitable-Act-1319 NTA. If it's not theirs, they need to ask every time.
    via Inevitable-Act1319
  • 19
    Fun Ideal_5584 Why are people upset with what you do with your own property. Do your neighbors allow people to use their property at will?
    via Fun_Ideal_5584
  • 20
    G-reeper66 NTA If she complains tell her at least you didn't have her boyfriend towed!
    via G-reeper66
  • 21
    NooOfTheNah Better to be passive aggressive and put up a parking bollard then to be an entitled Karen having a go at your neighbour because she can't use someone else's driveway without permission. Whichever neighbour says a thing tell them thanks for volunteering your driveway, I will let her know she can park on yours whenever she needs too. Stick a note through her door advising which neighbours have now volunteered drive time.
    via NooOftheNah

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neighbors parking space driveway parking drama
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