Patio Privacy Ideas

Neighbor like this:

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Does the motivation matter? If it’s legal to do, it’s legal to do.
On the other hand several people suggested pointing a laser or getting the wife to make some sort of accusations. Now those would be questionable from the legal perspective.

Some laws limit how you can set up cameras, especially if they're pointed straight at someone else's property or house. If the camera isn't recording the neighbor's property, but it's actually recording the OP's, he MAY have a legal option. That's why he needs to check before he starts entertaining the clown next door.
That camera doesn't seem to be recording anything on the neighbor's property except the corner of that fence. But, without actually being there, it's hard to say. If there's a gate around the corner, the neighbor could claim that he's watching it. But if it were actually set up to monitor his own yard, it would be set up differently.
 
Some laws limit how you can set up cameras, especially if they're pointed straight at someone else's property or house. If the camera isn't recording the neighbor's property, but it's actually recording the OP's, he MAY have a legal option. That's why he needs to check before he starts entertaining the clown next door.
That camera doesn't seem to be recording anything on the neighbor's property except the corner of that fence. But, without actually being there, it's hard to say. If there's a gate around the corner, the neighbor could claim that he's watching it. But if it were actually set up to monitor his own yard, it would be set up differently.

That's pretty much what I said in my first reply. But good luck proving what this neighbor's camera is actually looking at.

But my main point is the hypocrisy in some of the replies, which are based on feeling. Cameras are everywhere and that's OK and many people have no problem with cloud based cameras being inside their houses recording video and audio, it's all fine, but cameras on your neighbors house, it's creepy.
 
That's pretty much what I said in my first reply. But good luck proving what this neighbor's camera is actually looking at.

But my main point is the hypocrisy in some of the replies, which are based on feeling. Cameras are everywhere and that's OK and many people have no problem with cloud based cameras being inside their houses recording video and audio, it's all fine, but cameras on your neighbors house, it's creepy.

I get what you're saying, and I agree, to an extent. Cameras on commercial buildings, traffic lights, and highways are for Security, Law Enforcement, etc. Cameras inside your home are there because you put them there; you consent to that.

The exception here is the fact that he has a creepy neighbor who is actively conducting unwanted surveillance on him. If that camera isn't catching anything but the top corner of that fence, and everything else is the OP's back yard, patio, and house, that's crossing a line. There's no consent, this isn't for Law Enforcement, and this isn't for the security of the creepy neighbor's property.

I think he needs to get photos and document everything, including trying to reason with the neighbor. If that fails, look into the legality of this security camera, which is pointed directly at his property, by consulting a professional who knows the local and national laws on this matter. I would do this before I started building things in my yard that I didn't want in the first place.
 
Wife and next door neighbor's wife have been on the "outs" ever since the neighbor said some nasty things on FB (gotta love social media :rolleyes:). Wife felt that when ever she was in their backyard, she could easily see over the fence and into our patio area that had our hot tub on it. Since that side faced south anyway, and got direct sun, I put up one of these:
https://www.coolaroousa.com/roller-shades

Blocks the sun AND any neighbor's prying eyes. Made the Missus very comfortable and didn't cause any problems with the neighbors. No fuss, no muss.
 
I get what you're saying, and I agree, to an extent. Cameras on commercial buildings, traffic lights, and highways are for Security, Law Enforcement, etc. Cameras inside your home are there because you put them there; you consent to that.

The exception here is the fact that he has a creepy neighbor who is actively conducting unwanted surveillance on him. If that camera isn't catching anything but the top corner of that fence, and everything else is the OP's back yard, patio, and house, that's crossing a line. There's no consent, this isn't for Law Enforcement, and this isn't for the security of the creepy neighbor's property.

I think he needs to get photos and document everything, including trying to reason with the neighbor. If that fails, look into the legality of this security camera, which is pointed directly at his property, by consulting a professional who knows the local and national laws on this matter. I would do this before I started building things in my yard that I didn't want in the first place.

We have no facts, only one sided story and a picture that tells very little of the situation.
I agree that Op should try to resolve this issue with the neighbor, if not the only viable alternate is to block the camera view with some sort of privacy screen. I highly doubt he can pursue this successfully in a legal court without wasting a lot of money and time.
This is very similar if the neighbor was looking at their yard from a second story window, you may not like it, but there is nothing you can do about it, except block it on your side of the fence.
 
Cell phone photos can be deceiving. How far is that camera from the fence? It doesn't look like it's seeing anything but his side of the fence and into your yard.
6-8 feet from camera to his fence.

The laws here indicate you can aim a camera (not at a window) at anyones property which is visible while standing on public property such as a sidewalk or street. Aiming directly at the rear of a home which cannot be seen from the street is invasion of privacy.
 
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Wife and next door neighbor's wife have been on the "outs" ever since the neighbor said some nasty things on FB (gotta love social media :rolleyes:). Wife felt that when ever she was in their backyard, she could easily see over the fence and into our patio area that had our hot tub on it. Since that side faced south anyway, and got direct sun, I put up one of these:
https://www.coolaroousa.com/roller-shades

Blocks the sun AND any neighbor's prying eyes. Made the Missus very comfortable and didn't cause any problems with the neighbors. No fuss, no muss.
I like your idea and may buy one. It's also functional by blocking out annoying evening sun.
 
I like your idea and may buy one. It's also functional by blocking out annoying evening sun.
Main for getting it was the functionality, side benefit it is reasonable enough that next door thinks I did it for shading the sun, not to block the view. In my experience, I've found the less obvious you make interaction with a neighbor who's cheese is barely on the cracker, the less likely you are to end up discovering just how crazy they are. No one wants to be on one of those "I live next door to hell" shows 😁.
 
Easy -
CAN be bought at Home Dept or Lowes.
Fast growing but will grow very tall
https://mcmakinfarms.imgix.net/green-giant-arborvitae-full780275820.jpg?w=1440&auto=format

Or buy the largest you can and they will stay full but not get too tall
https://www.shrubhub.com/img/Optimized_Product_Images/shnp/SHB0129_Arborvitae_Emerald Green_01.jpg
Screenshot 2026-02-24 at 9.32.50 AM.webp


Love my neighbors but still like some privacy ... These below are from Home Depot and Lowes about $50 each, Home Depot recently started selling even larger ones for around $15 more.

I only planted these less than 2 years ago when we moved in. Also its freaking cold right now and in winter they turn a greenish brown until spring.
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Easy -
CAN be bought at Home Dept or Lowes.
Fast growing but will grow very tall
https://mcmakinfarms.imgix.net/green-giant-arborvitae-full780275820.jpg?w=1440&auto=format

Or buy the largest you can and they will stay full but not get too tall
https://www.shrubhub.com/img/Optimized_Product_Images/shnp/SHB0129_Arborvitae_Emerald Green_01.jpg
View attachment 325823

Love my neighbors but still like some privacy ... These below are from Home Depot and Lowes about $50 each, Home Depot recently started selling even larger ones for around $15 more.

I only planted these less than 2 years ago when we moved in. Also not its freaking cold right now and in winter they turn a greenish brown until spring.
View attachment 325826 View attachment 325827
Keep them well watered, mulched and fer-T-lized and they take to pruning nicely. Maybe take the plywood down when these guys are fully blocking!
 
I have a back patio which consists of an overhead aluminum awning having open sides. I have a neigbor who unfortunately is an idiot and has a camera aimed right at the side of my patio. I dealt with it last year but felt a little uncomfortable about it. It is high enough where it looks right above HIS 6 ft privacy fence. I would appreciate any low cost ideas to effectively block his view while not creating an eyesore.
I have , also an idiot neighbor who purposely installed one of his many security cameras aimed right over the fence looking at my side garage entrance door. I have a window with a shade on that door but it is still aggravating just knowing this fool can watch me & wife every single time we use that door. I told the wife I have thought about making a large window sized poster with a middle finger on it. That way I can let him know what I think (he does know already) of him each time he looks. I installed a "fake" camera pointing at his a while back. He moved it one day and the next week it was right back there aiming at my door.

I must be very different than most these days. Because I can think of no reason on earth why I would even think to point a camera like that at someone's doors or windows?
 
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