Neighbors Against Neighbors . . . ADU Rifts Heating Up
- Susan Heavilin
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
ADUs so close to houses that the workmen need to step on the neighboring property just to get the final paint on the wall. That's probably a little tight.
Tempers are flaring after residents take advantage of ADUs built right on the property line. How do you finish them when you've built to the edge of your property?
"The two-year battle over a controversial backyard apartment in Crown Point escalated to a new level this week, with two visits by San Diego police, accusations of trespassing and new threats of litigation. The source of the controversy is a zoning loophole that has pitted neighbor against neighbor in coastal communities by allowing backyard apartments — also called accessory dwelling units, or ADUs — to be built directly along property lines."— David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune
It's great to make a little extra money by building an ADU that you can rent out. But if it causes a negative outcome to your next-door neighbor, you might want to rethink it.
High walls or houses close to the property line can cause lack of ocean breeze, lack of sunshine or even lack of privacy from a new two-story window.
Is that the person you want to be? The person that destroys the property next door for your own happiness? How much joy can you possibly have when the family next-door will no longer talk to you?
Just because something is legal doesn't mean that it is always right. And if it burns a bridge with your neighbor, who would want to live in an unfriendly community anyway? You don't want to turn into the Hatfields and the McCoys.
This ADU story isn't as bad as all of that. But the City Council rethought their decision and outlawed building backyard apartments on property lines. They reneged it two-and-a-half years later. But in the meantime, several people took advantage of the loophole.
Read "A fought-over ADU is officially done. Two neighbors’ war over it may not be." by David Garrick of the Union-Tribune for the full story.
ADUs so close to houses that the workmen need to step on the neighboring property just to get the final paint on the wall. That's probably a little tight.