Fence Question - What am I allowed to do? (Plainfield: crime, moving)

[Belienda]

My family and I are new to the Plainfield area and thought all was doing good until this morning.

The doorbell went off and I was greeted by the next door neighbor who was very upset with me for allowing my trash cans to be "touching" her fence. The trash cans are in our back yard placed on the side of the yard that just happens to have her fence. She claims that this was damaging her fence and that I was rude and inconsiderate for allowing such a crime to take place. I might add that they are placed in the same area the person before us had them and even on the pad that was created just for them.

The back yard has three sides, two of them are covered by our fence and the third happens to be her fence.

We just moved in 2 months ago, and honestly have never even seen the neighbor before.

After she left I went to look at the "damage" and discovered not one scratch and the can was not even touching her fence. There was 1 plastic handled dog pooper scooper handle that was leaning against the fence so that we can properly take care of the animal waste but nothing more. We have children who are outside daily and I need to be able to make them aware of what they can and can not touch. Again I will add that my children are very well behaved and we all do our best to stay friendly and understanding of others around us. I thought maybe she was more upset that I had not gone over yet to introduce myself but heavens I have been rather busy with moving and mommy/wife things.

I am confused. If the fence is something that I view and plays a part of my back yard then am I or am I not allowed to touch it? I would never want to hammer into it or paint it nor cause damage but if it is technically serving as my fence too then what am I allowed to or not allowed to do?

If I place a fence along her side as well then who has to deal with the weeds and growth between the fences?

[deeman7]

Sounds like you have a crazy neighbor. I wouldn't worry about it. There's no damage and its your yard. Just place the cans next to her fence but not touching it to try to make her happy. If not then just let her call the police. They'll come out and see that she's being ridiculous and that'll be the end of that.


Sorry you moved next to a crazy lady

[grampaTom]

Originally Posted by deeman7

Sounds like you have a crazy neighbor. I wouldn't worry about it. There's no damage and its your yard. Just place the cans next to her fence but not touching it to try to make her happy. If not then just let her call the police. They'll come out and see that she's being ridiculous and that'll be the end of that.


Sorry you moved next to a crazy lady

I agree with this^^^^^^^^^^