ABA Family Legal Guide

Home Ownership

Managing Neighborhood Problems

Handling Disputes

How can I tell if my neighbor is violating a zoning ordinance?

City or county zoning regulations may limit the height of fences, the use of property for commercial purposes, or the decibels of noise allowed at night. In some cases, city officials notice a violation and issue a citation, but usually it's up to the neighbors to complain. If you suspect a zoning violation is causing the problem--such as the transformation of your vegetable garden into a shade garden thanks to your neighbor's new twelve-foot fence--check with your city hall or town council to see if there's a regulation on the books. Either the town hall or the local library should have copies of municipal ordinances.