https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:03:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865406 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 12:53:45 +0000 Sams Mom 2865406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: have you looked into bamboo as a wind block/noise block/junk block? It grows quickly, is pretty dense fairly quick, and isn't as out of place as a fence in a neighborhood workout fences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865390 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 11:23:09 +0000 hellobeeboston 2865390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: agree with a privacy wall or fence - i'd plant those big shrubs that grow tall over time... I have been meaning to do that in my own backyard actually </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865376 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 10:43:49 +0000 BadgerMom 2865376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think putting up a privacy fence is your only option. And like you said it doesn't have to be an actual fence, just a nice looking privacy style fence panel that runs along that lot line from the woods up to a point that makes sense would work. Lots of people have them around us. You probably will still have to get a fence permit with the city because they have certain rules in height (usually 8'), material, and the fact that you have to have the "ugly" side of the panel facing you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865370 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 10:28:58 +0000 psw27 2865370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: I'd get a fence or a wall. It wouldn't offend me and maybe it would make them realize that they have junk in their yard. I doubt they even pay attention to it. Some people become so accustomed to looking at junk they don't even notice it anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865355 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 09:44:39 +0000 cyoung 2865355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: totally less offensive to just build a fence. I wouldnt be offended at all if someone built a privacy fence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865353 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 09:41:22 +0000 JennyPenny 2865353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone - I'll probably talk to my husband about adding a privacy wall. Even if they cleaned it all up, it might be nice to have some extra privacy anyway. I don't think we'd do a whole fence, just because of the way our lot lines work, but just a 20 foot wall. Do you think they'd be offended if suddenly a wall appeared that was explicitly to block the view of their junk? And would that be more or less offensive then asking to help clean it up?</p> <p>ETA: no one in our cul de sac has a fence, and very few people in our neighborhood do </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865345 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 09:20:09 +0000 Becky 2865345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our neighbors yard looks like this, but a little less tidy. That’s a pretty tidy trash heap. But our neighbors also have a ton of kids and while the youngest is 10, they’ll probably have grandkids in the next few years and I think that’s why they keep so much. TBH the side/back of most people’s garages/sheds tend to have at least a few things stored around. We have some seasonal stuff along the back of our garage because we can’t fit things like soccer nets or patio furniture in there with our cars in the winter. I think if you live in a super tidy suburb where everyone has a basement and a garage then maybe you could say something. But if you’re semi-rural or in a village where storage space is limited, you should let it go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865341 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:42:21 +0000 erinbaderin 2865341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't do anything. It's their property, and I feel like it's their business what they do on it. If you don't like to look at it, like others have said, plant some shrubbery or build a fence - maybe they'd split the cost of a fence with you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865339 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:17:00 +0000 cyoung 2865339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly I'm one of those people who believe in "it's my yard. I do what I want" you have no idea who or what they are going through. I wouldn't worry about it. Just get a fence if it bothers you to look at it that much. I dont mean this in a mean way I totally understand but odds are if you call the city or make a stink about it they will just think your a rude busy body. Where I live this is the mentality people have. It may not he to them junk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865338 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:05:42 +0000 brownepiano 2865338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Someone in our neighborhood called the police on our neighbors across the fence who had a yard SO much worse than that. Whoever called the cops took pictures for evidence from our deck when we weren't home. Our neighbors blamed us although were nice enough to ask us about it and not just be mad at us. We had only been here a year or so. It definitely made the whole neighborhood tense. With a pile that small I'd try getting to know them first instead of citing them and try some of the other suggestions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865321 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 21:54:08 +0000 Grace 2865321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I’d build a fence. I would definitely not say anything unless you want to get into a neighbour war. From what I can see, there are no rusty cars, no piles of garbage. It could be so much worse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865318 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 21:39:18 +0000 JCCovi 2865318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd be surprised if the city counts this as affecting you. My guess is without a HOA your only option is to put up a fence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865304 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 20:42:50 +0000 Littlebit7 2865304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the first step is introducing yourself. Bake a loaf of banana bread and ring their bell or leave a “hello” note. Try to establish that you are nice, normal, respectful humans<br /> A few weeks later offer the “we are running to the dump can we take anything for you” line. But be prepared for a “no”. It might not be junk to them, who knows. But lots of people abide by the “my property, my rights” motto. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865290 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 19:42:13 +0000 JennyPenny 2865290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: @muffinsmuffins: we do have a town ordinance and the way it’s worded suggests that if it is anywhere that affects neighbors it counts - so that could be an official approach </p> <p>@Litebrite: I don’t really like fences, but we’ve thought about planting some trees</p> <p>@crazydoglady: DH said he could go say “I’m running to the dump, want me to take anything?” They do use the trash cans for yard waste but their son is 10 so those toys and the wagon are definitely past being used.</p> <p>Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I’m feeling better about it, at least back to status quo. I just felt super ragey when I got home this afternoon. DH offering to talk to them helps a lot too cause I don’t think I’d be able to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865263 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 17:20:15 +0000 crazydoglady 2865263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think there is anything you can do short of renting a dumpster and asking if they want to split it. </p> <p>Do they ever use anything in that pile? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865256 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 16:58:36 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2865256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing I know of is you can call bylaw if it’s their front yard and they don’t keep it tidy/mowed. My parents have weird across the road neighbours and they let their grass grow like 2 feet tall. Someone in the neighbourhood called the city bylaw and they evaluated it, gave a notice to take care of it and they didn’t do the city mowed it and sent them an invoice. That stopped it. As for backyard, I doubt there’s anything to be done unfortunately. I would consider fencing if it bothered me that much. I would never have the guts to complain directly or through a letter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865255 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 16:57:36 +0000 Litebrite 2865255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: yea I think you're right about the letter not going over well </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865248 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 16:31:11 +0000 gotkimchi 2865248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No hoa no recourse unless there is a city ordinance.</p> <p>ETA - I don’t think anyone takes kindly to letters despite the best intentions. I think most people feel like it’s their property their business </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865245 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 16:14:55 +0000 Litebrite 2865245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Put up a fence to block the view?<br /> I'm not sure what your other options would be. There are a few houses in my neighborhood like that, and I think some people just accumulate junk like that. Maybe you can write them a well worded letter offering to pay for the clean up? Otherwise I think it's their right to have an eye sore in their yard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-neighbors-keep-trash-in-their-yard#post-2865239 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 15:42:19 +0000 JennyPenny 2865239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe it’s all the decluttering threads but I just got back from the store and felt DONE with looking at my neighbor’s trash pile that they keep in their backyard. It’s been there for years and has always bugged me but today I just feel like I have to do something about it, but I’m not sure how. We don’t have an HOA. It would definitely be against town ordinance but I feel a little shady taking that as the first step. The trouble is, we don’t know them. We’ve lived here 8 years and never talked to them, and rarely see them, so it seems hard to casually ask them to take care of their junk. And I don’t know how I would phrase it anyway... so, what would you guys do, if this was part of your view from your yard? </p> [attach=2543/19/pkxg6k.600x450.C7711C7E-A954-4F11-8885-48FAB4D0B18A.jpeg]