Being a homeowner comes with its perks, and you have the freedom to do what you want with your 100 square feet of real estate. But don’t get too comfortable with that in-ground swimming pool, because your neighbors aren’t keen on the color aqua. The most common problem between neighbors is an issue involving water runoff from their yard to yours.
You may be wondering if it is possible to stop them from allowing water to run onto your property. The good news is that there are a few things you can do about water runoff from adjacent properties.
Can a neighbor drain water on my property
Neighbors should not drain water onto your property without your permission if it causes damage or creates a nuisance. The specifics of this issue may depend on the laws and regulations in your jurisdiction, as well as any agreements or easements that may exist between properties.
Can I sue my neighbor for water runoff?
Yes, you can sue your neighbor for water runoff from his property onto yours if he does not take reasonable precautions to prevent this from happening.
In many jurisdictions, some laws govern water runoff and drainage. These laws typically require property owners to manage water runoff on their property in a way that does not cause harm or damage to neighboring properties. If your neighbor’s actions are causing significant damage or negatively impacting your property, you may have legal recourse.
How to stop water runoff from neighbor’s yard
There are many steps you can take to prevent runoff in your yard and protect your home from the damaging effects of too much water.
Set up a Dry Well
You should have a dry well if you have a septic tank. This is an underground tank that collects wastewater from the home. The dry well is filled with gravel and sits below the frost line. It collects excess water from rain or irrigation and stores it until it can be pumped into the septic system.
Set up a dry well for rainwater runoff if you don’t have one already. Put it near the highest point of your property where your downspouts drain runoff from your roof into the yard. A dry well can also be used to collect runoff from other areas of your yard, such as driveways and patios.
Make a swale
A swale is an area of land that slopes gently down towards a ditch or channel. It’s usually used to divert water when there’s too much of it. You can create a swale by grading the soil so that it slopes away from your property and toward your neighbor’s property.
Plant vegetation
Trees, shrubs, and other plants can help stop water runoff by capturing water in their roots and leaves and using it for growth. You should plant trees along the edge of your property where they’ll catch rainwater from the street or sidewalk before it flows into your yard or garden. Vegetation can also help reduce erosion by slowing down the flow of water across bare soil.
Trees and Shrubs
If you have trees or shrubs near your property line, they may be causing some of the runoff. Trimming them back will help prevent this. If your neighbor doesn’t want to trim the trees or shrubs, you can try trimming them yourself. You may want to check with your local government or zoning board before taking such action, but if there’s nothing in place to stop you, it’s worth a shot.
Build a Retaining Wall
If you have a hill that runs along your property line, installing retaining walls can help prevent water from accumulating and causing problems for both properties. They’re also useful for creating level areas where plants can be planted and grass can be cut easily without destroying soil structure.
Digging a Trench
One option is to dig a trench along the edge of your property that will catch the water before it gets onto your property. However, this method does not eliminate the problem and does require some hard work on your part.
Installing a French Drain
Another option is installing a French drain under your lawn. This system uses pipes buried underground that carry away excess water as well as dirt so that it can be used again later in another location or simply discarded into a nearby creek or river.
Installing these drains requires some digging but is fairly easy once you know what you’re doing.
Use Sandbags
You can use sandbags to divert water away from your home and into your neighbor’s yard. This will allow them to manage their water runoff. The only drawback is that you must be prepared for a long-term commitment; you may need to keep the sandbags in place for several months until the ground freezes.
Talk to Your Neighbors
One of the easiest ways to manage water runoff is by talking to your neighbors. If they have a problem with too much water on their property, they may not realize it’s coming from your yard until you point it out! In this case, you might be able to work together on a solution that works for both of you.
