Can a neighbor who doesn’t own a boat build a double boathouse that obstructs our view of the cove main lake?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can a neighbor who doesn’t own a boat build a double boathouse that obstructs our view of the cove main lake?
My fiance and I are under contract to purchase a home on lake Gaston. We are buying it without a real estate agent. We close in 11 days. The neighbor has repeatedly tried to purchase the property from the gentleman we are buying from. They have had disputes in the past the current owner would not sell him the property. The neighbor went as far as to offer 40k over whatever our bid was after we signed a contract to buy. His offer was again rejected because we already have a contract to buy. A week after he found out it was under contract he started construction of a double boathouse. All the other
piers boathouses in the cove are constructed close to the shoreline. He started his structure 2 feet beyond the end of our pier on his property effectively obstructing our view of the cove and main lake. There is no HOA in the subdivision. Is there any possible recourse to stop and/or modify the construction of his boathouse so that it doesn’t kill our view? He does not even own a boat.
Asked on August 20, 2017 under Real Estate Law, North Carolina
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
His not owning a boat is irrelevant: unless he is violating local zoning in some way, he may build anything he likes on his property, whether or not it impacts the views of neighbors; that is an intrinsic risk of buying property for a view, when there is someone who owns land between you and the view. As long as he complies with local zoning, building, etc. laws, he can build anything he likes on his land, whether it is useful or not--i.e. he could build a stable for non-existant horses, a lighthouse to guide steamships that don't exist safe to shore, etc.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.