Fences make good neighbors

I think the 6 feet rule applies to yards – does it apply to terraces?  Even if it does, are your neighbor’s concerns completely unreasonable?  While no one has a right to a view in NYC, how would you feel if it were the other way around?  Perhaps there is a compromise you could think through – some sort of barrier closest to the house wall, but still open near the edge.  You might also run afoul of the restriction on combustible materials within 3 feet of the property line.  So if you piss your neighbor off s/he could make a complaint about your new wall and potentially (?) even the original deck.

Putnamdenizen

in Building Code 12 years and 1 month ago

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brooklyn scout | 12 years and 1 month ago

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I have a terrace that borders another building’s terrace on the 5th floor of a townhouse.  There is a half wall that separates our terraces.  I would like to build a fence type of structure between our terraces for privacy.  However, my neighbor is concerned that I would take away his view and therefore decrease his property value and does not want it built. Can I build a privacy fence on my property without his consent?  Would “my property” start on my half of the wall separating our terraces?

marie-helene | 12 years and 1 month ago

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You can build a fence or trellis on your side of the wall to 6ft, and you can add containers and grow vines, like clematis or honeysuckle (be sure to pick the kind that doesn’t grow too tall so it stays on the fence without too much work), trees in dwarf forms (like cherry or apple or a Japanese maple) and some shrubs (rose or boxwood or a small evergreen.) By combining a fence and some plants, you can have all the privacy you need.