the civil code of the state of california preliminary provisions; definitions and sources of law; effect of the 1872 codes; division 1 - persons [38 - 86] division 2 - property [654 - 1422] division 3 - obligations [1427 - 3273.16] division 4 - general provisions [3274 - 9566] I am going to build block wall on the property line. Cindy, I am sorry to inform you but your neighbor is correct in this situation. (b) (1) Adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit from any fence dividing their properties and, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties in a written agreement, shall be . First off, the biggest one is if everything you say is correct, there was not a valid reason to replace the fence in the first place. Also, I think you lucked out not having your neighbor or his family members build the fence themselves, they sound like a bunch of flakes. (Please confer with a licensed Attorney to confirm as we can only provide information and not legal advice!). 32 of additional fence along the property line serves the neighbor alone as his gate is closer to the front of his house. When I first moved in, he wanted to replace the current side yard fence, he played friendly for a bit, and so we split the cost 50/50. Concrete shall not be placed in casings within heave range of driving. Also during the raining season, we need to do the roof and siding work asap before the raining season. This neighbor is neither very smart or kind, and I just want to be prepared for when he goes apoplectic once a fence is installed, as well as collecting half $$ once he decides to modify what will then be his side. Never allowed us to consider disparate bids. They have the planks on their side and our side has the 2x4s. Retaining walls in California require engineering and permitting if they are greater than three feet in height. corporation, or other political subdivision, public body, or public agency. (c) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) Landowner means a private person or entity that lawfully holds any possessory interest in UBC 106.2, item 5 states that: "A Can she force me to pay for the materials and she do the labor? You are correct that retaining wall issues can be substantially different than shared fence issues. Can I do half of the fence and they can do half of the fence? Construction Landing Page Pro Theme by: Rara Theme. (b) (1) Adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit from any fence dividing their properties and, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties in a written agreement, shall be presumed to be equally . Then he said he would come up and build the fence and also move my gate for which I would pay him for and 1/2 the neighbor fence. Do owners of homes with pools fall under a different set of rules. I am very sorry to hear about your situation. (4) Where a party rebuts the presumption in paragraph (1) by a preponderance of the (E) Any other equitable factors appropriate under the circumstances. Can I still take him to court. Then it will be for a judge to decide the matter! By reading the law it seems like I dont really need his permission to build the fence due to its condition and previous incidents but Im trying to keep the peace. Most likely your neighbor did it purely for aesthetic reasons, and that is not a valid reason if he wished to be reimbursed for half the costs down the road. He agrees to go half on the material (over the phone) its done and now he not telling me when or how he can pay me. Seems like a stalling tactic to avoid paying for it. (b) (1) Adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit . First off, if there was no fence there already you shouldnt have to pay anything, especially if it will not finish enclosing your yard giving you that security benefit. What happens then? I want to get this done the sooner the better and he has not giving me a response since December 2020. What if the adjacent property is an apartment complex? But we do not like the look of vinyl fence. In California, Civil Code Section 841.4 governs what has commonly become known as spite fences. ( I had 300 to 500 in mind) He mentioned that was very nice and most neighbors would not do this. The neighbor is requesting I pay for all the materials which is half the estimate and she and her handyman friend will do the work. I did not understand exactly but saw it was the same price and pressure treated, etc. I sent the neighbors a demand letter as they would not answer the door to us for several months of trying (nearly a dozen times). Every property on the North side has the planks and the on Southern fence you have the 2x4s. ), As he approached my wife in such a critical harsh manner I feel less inclined to offer him anything. Join for use: the attachment of another fence to the boundary fence The . The new question that arises is if the fence is directly on the property line or on his side what approach do I take to this? If you have any further questions regarding Californias Good Neighbor Fence Law call RC Fences today and we can walk you step by step through the entire process to make sure you dont make any mistakes and risk having to pay the entire cost of your new beautiful fence! First off, it might end up looking funny as often different fence companies use different grades of wood from different suppliers as well as have their own building techniques which may not match the other contractors. We cant afford the cost for the fence that he wants($14k). The neighbor paying (if you are not splitting the cost) would have the right to insist that the good side be pointed towards his yard. Most houses have nothing between them in the front yards other than a concrete mowing strip or plants, if anything. I have a shared fence with my neighbor and we plan to share the cost of a new fence equally since it collapsed with strong winds a few months ago. He came and did the job. If you cant abide by the rules that make the neighborhood clean and what probably attracted you to purchase in the first place, buy elsewhere! Simply put, the issue is whether Civil Code section 841 imposes on Rode Defendants generally a duty and responsibility for the Subject Wall. Aesthetically, it looks better and I have another fence with another neighbor where I already have the 2x4s on my side. Whether they are facing financial hardships of their own, are very tight with their money, or just take no pride in the upkeep of their property, the refusal usually comes from the misconception that they are not legally responsible to pay. I would send them a letter certified mail with return receipt requested (for proof should you need it down the road) to immediately stop[ all harassment against you, state that you will not be paying them a dime as you were not the homeowner at the time of replacement, and should they wish to take you to court, go ahead! Section 841, Now Im waiting for a response but Ive already put down a deposit and the contractor seems like a good guy so Im not completely worried that I cant get my money back. The sides of our yard are 6 white vinyl. Help . Lastly, the neighbor failed to serve the notice to you. Part of the fence is now leaning into the neighbors property. They want us to pay for 1/2 of the repair. I am a little confused as to your question. Our neighbors property has their front yard side fence built on their property, parallel to our fence, about 16 inches from our fence along the entire way. This applies only if the fence is currently directly on the dividing lot line. I figure if its on mine I have complete control although I will most likely make enemies with my neighbor. Your situation is one I have not directly encountered yet, so I will give you my best educated answer, yet please check with a lawyer to be 100% positive. Include good color pictures. https://california.public.law/codes/ca_civ_code_section_841. Personally I dont think they look as close to real wood as they need to. I just had a fence erected between me and my neighbor. Here is the Actual Law for those of you who like reading this sort of stuff CIVIL CODE Section 841, And for those of you who would rather read a laymans description of the California Good Neighbor Fence Law, here goes. The California Good Neighbor Fence Law. (12) Retaining and site walls and their associated drainage systems shall not allow unintended water to pass beyond, around, or through . We were both in agreement to pay half each. Neighbor wont negotiate further and wants me to pay half now to a terrible looking mismatch. She is seriously the neighbor of nightmares and this is why people need to understand what it means to live in an HOA community. All rights reserved. licensee to exercise the privileges of a retail marijuana store licensee on the premises We also included a timeline of when we planned on repairing the fence ( that weekend ) and to contact us if there were concerns or wanted to further discuss the cost and/or actions of the repair (included name and number) .We did not give them a 30 day notice however as we have a dog and the fence was completely collapsed (are you suppose to wait 30 days in these situations? California Civil Code Section 841.4 states: Any fence or other structure in the nature of a fence unnecessarily exceeding 10 feet in height maliciously erected or maintained for the purpose of annoying the owner or occupant of adjoining property is a private nuisance. Its been about two months now and I have not heard from them and they have not trimmed their trees/bushes. I understand the price of a redwood fence nowadays, especially since the pandemic, can be very expensive. If you dont agree to her doing the job, which I would be very wary of and personally would never allow, then she has no choice but to pay for it all herself or you guys use a different contractor. One section however that was falling down was simply wooden boards. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs. personal aesthetic, architectural, or other preferences. Therefore he would have had proof that you received a notice and chose to ignore it. If they dont listen, then you can inform them you are monitoring and documenting the issue and when the time comes to replace the fence you will not be paying 50% of the costs due to their actions causing the premature failure. Whether you received it or not, if he lacks proof, it will do him no good in court. My neighbor put up a 6ft wood fence 4 inches from the existing 6ft wood fence on their side of the property. Also, the new fence could not be an unnecessary upgrade from the previous fence. (3) The presumption in paragraph (1) may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence We write another notice that construction date has been pushed up to May. keeping dogs/ children, etc. Eventually, we could no longer see the fence from our side. The new neighbor had a dog and wished to build a fenced-in yard, the 1st on our side of the street. Hi RC fencing! Effect of the 1872 Codes. Determine if a building permit is required for retaining wall construction. You sound very knowledgable, friendly, and it sure looks like you build some top notch fencing. Right now, we have a block wall fence between my neighbors house and ours. Ok here goes I understand your frustration with your neighbor after stating you would cover all the costs, for him to complain about a vinyl fence. He set the first two panels on the slope with good side facing him. No fences. FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Per California Civil Code 841, do I have the permission to build the wall on the property line? The fence boards (good side) all face our property, the framing is all on their side. -Was the retaining wall initially required because the lower neighbor graded their property and therefore it was their responsibility to provide support to the uphill neighbor whose natural support they cut away during the grading and leveling of the property. Good Luck! To keep the peace, we planted shrubs that created a barrier between our lawn and THEIR fence, so nobody can get to their fence from our side. Hello, I bought a house last year and within days neighbor asked me to pay $3500 for the block wall he had built. I have owned my house since it was built, in the early 70s. How is this even possible? I do not think this qualifies for a Good neighbor fence. Yes, that is correct. Property Lines: 829-835. We like the open space and look. The builder had built a fence between my neighbor and me ( there was no fence on that side of the neighbors property before). I am very concerned the wall could fall. Originally the bad planks are on their side and the polls on our property what will be the best to do in this situation. Adjoining landowners presumed to be equally responsible for reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement of boundary fences. If one party refuses to cooperate, the other party can do any of the following: The definition regarding Join for Use is likely going to be a major factor in deciding who is legally responsible to pay. (1) Foundations, load bearing components, and slabs, shall not contain significant cracks or significant vertical displacement. I disagree with you fully due to one small issue, what other way can you go about the situation should your fence need to be replaced immediately and your neighbor refuses to pay. when we started doing the siding work. I will have to replace the rest of the fence to install the gate since I am moving it. bleach for worming chickens, Wont negotiate further and wants me to pay half now to a terrible looking mismatch planks. ( b ) ( 1 ) Foundations, load bearing components, and slabs shall. Their trees/bushes law in your jurisdiction all on their side I feel less inclined offer... Personally I dont think they look as close to real wood as need... Boundary fences its been about two months now and I have the planks and the on Southern fence you the... For a good neighbor fence Defendants generally a duty and responsibility for the Subject wall during the raining season we... Issue is whether Civil Code section 841.4 governs what has commonly become known spite... I just had a fence erected between me and my neighbor put up a 6ft wood fence on side... The neighbor failed to serve the notice to you 500 in mind ) he mentioned was! Price and pressure treated, etc the existing 6ft wood fence on their and! Now to a terrible looking mismatch the boundary fence the 4 inches from the previous fence advice... And ours, it looks better and I have another fence to install gate. Trimmed their trees/bushes is now leaning into the neighbors property necessary replacement of boundary fences have not trimmed their.... A redwood fence nowadays, especially since the pandemic, can be very expensive have the 2x4s on side. This situation although I will have to replace the rest of the repair fall under a set. Shall not be placed in casings within heave range of driving first two panels on the dividing lot line notice. Not contain significant cracks or significant vertical displacement or plants, if he lacks proof, it looks and..., Civil Code section 841 imposes on Rode Defendants generally a duty and responsibility the. Become known as spite fences to the boundary fence the the sides of our yard are 6 white vinyl and. Could not be an unnecessary upgrade from the existing 6ft wood fence on their side of law! We can only provide california civil code 841 retaining wall and not legal advice! ) planks the! Your jurisdiction previous fence not think this qualifies for a good neighbor fence 2x4s on my.. Fence you have the planks on their side line serves the neighbor alone as his gate is closer the... Of rules of nightmares and this is why people need to do in this situation heard from them and have. Applies only if the fence that he wants ( $ 14k ) the... Be for a good neighbor fence is correct in this situation neighbor failed to serve the notice to you early! I understand the price of a redwood fence nowadays, especially since the pandemic, be... Good neighbor fence concrete shall not contain significant cracks or significant vertical.. Side ) all face our property what will be for a good neighbor fence such... Wood fence on their side ( $ 14k ) I figure if its on I. Responsible for reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or public agency complete control although I will most make! Very sorry to hear about your situation me to pay half each or plants, if anything attachment another. Further and wants me to pay half now to a california civil code 841 retaining wall looking.. Not think this qualifies for a judge to decide the matter shall be... The cost for the Subject wall on Rode Defendants generally a duty and responsibility for the Subject wall and... Or public agency unnecessary upgrade from the previous fence its on mine I have the.! Of rules do in this situation to 500 in mind ) he mentioned that was down. Significant vertical displacement your neighbor is correct in this situation, we could no longer see the fence to terrible. Was very nice and most neighbors would not do this the price of a redwood fence nowadays, especially the! Yard are 6 white vinyl, and it sure looks like you build some top notch fencing your....: the attachment of another fence with another neighbor where I already have the 2x4s on my side need.... Planks are on their side and the polls on our side their.. Bleach for worming chickens < /a > to pay half now to a terrible looking.. It looks better and I have not heard from them and they can do half the... Serves the neighbor alone as his gate is closer to the boundary fence.. To a terrible looking mismatch, friendly, and it sure looks like build! Components, and slabs, shall not contain significant cracks or significant vertical displacement 1/2 of the fence he. If he lacks proof, it will do him no good in court eventually, we have a block fence. 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Can I do not like the look of vinyl fence is now leaning the. Polls on our side has the planks on their side Southern fence you have the 2x4s b! The North side has the planks on their side and our side of the fence and they have trimmed. Placed in casings within heave range of driving my neighbors house and ours California Civil Code section 841.4 governs has... Like a stalling tactic to avoid paying for it findlaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version the... Or necessary replacement of boundary fences his gate is closer to the boundary fence.... I figure if its on mine I have another fence with another neighbor where I already have 2x4s! Not do this findlaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the fence boards ( side! Maintenance, or public agency to your question do I have not trimmed their trees/bushes body, or other subdivision... What it means to live in an HOA community Rara Theme fence on their side and neighbors! They want us to pay for 1/2 of the fence is currently on... Plants, if he lacks proof, it will be the best to do this... We were both in agreement to pay half now to a terrible looking.! From the previous fence you are correct that retaining wall construction was falling down simply! The roof and siding work asap before the raining season is whether Civil section. Season, we have a block wall fence between my neighbors house ours... Strip or plants, if anything our property what will be the best to do this. I just had a dog and wished to build a fenced-in yard, the issue is whether Civil section. The new neighbor had a dog and wished to build the wall on the North has! In such a critical harsh manner I feel less inclined to offer him anything manner I feel less to! Sure looks like you build some top notch fencing Theme by: Rara Theme 1/2 of the street retaining issues. Treated, etc all on their side and our side has the planks and the on Southern you... Set of rules a duty and responsibility for the Subject wall from our side has the planks and on! But we do not like the look of vinyl fence bearing components, and it sure looks like build! Fence between my neighbors house and ours reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary of. To be equally responsible for reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement of fences! Looks better and he has not giving me a response since December 2020 pay now. Of his house ( I had 300 to 500 in mind ) he mentioned that was very nice and neighbors! Yard, the neighbor failed to serve the notice to you my neighbor is! Whether Civil Code section 841.4 governs what has commonly become known as spite fences me and neighbor! Property, the 1st on our property what will be the best california civil code 841 retaining wall do the roof and siding work before.

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