I have some nosey neighbors. They were taking pictures of my back yard. Is it legal for them to do that?

As long as they weren't trespassing, I believe it's legal for them to take pictures.

If they were taking photos from their own property they are allowed to do this. If they walked onto your property, then that's a different story. So long as they were on their own property or on public property (like the street or the swale area or a sidewalk) that's perfectly legal even if they did not ask permission. They can even use a telephoto lens so long as they are not on your property.

How do you know they are doing this? Do you know for what purpose. Some areas do have laws about illegal surveillance.

You might also find Locate, Rate, and Share Good and Bad Neighbors Before and After You Move (http://www.rottenneighbors.com) interesting.

Depends on the laws in your state. For instance, if you have a 6' wooden privacy fence, you have a reasonable right to expect it to be just that, private. Whatever is enclosed in that area (backyard, people, etc.) have a reasonable right to expect to be private. If the yard is NOT protected by a wooden fence, then what comes into question is, are they taking pictures of minor children? Are they taking photos of the inside of the home? Are they doing it with the intent to harass, and can you prove it?
I once owned a single story home surrounded by 2-story homes and you would think people would be considerate, use common sense and NOT be perverts. NOT always so. A fence nor much else, ever ensured our comfort or privacy.
Have you made them mad? Can you safely approach them? I would consider approaching them and asking them if I could help them? If discord already exists in some way, perhaps they are doing this in an attempt to intimidate you? Also, stalking might pertain.

I have some nosey neighbors. They were taking pictures of my back yard. Is it legal for them to do that?


I am not aware that this is illegal in any State. If it is being done as a form of harassment (the kind where people get your attention to make sure you see them and then take your photo) you can always report that to the Police but I don't think anything will be done.

I'm an investigator - shocking to other people but I take photos of other people's property all the time. As long as I'm not trespassing there are no problems. I've had people call the Police on several occasions, the Police arrive, I hand over my ID and explain my reason for being there, sometimes the Police stay until I'm done and then we all leave and that's the end of that.

For that matter I have had the Police served on either myself or my employees more than a few times for allegedly trespassing when serving legal documents - that's not trespassing. It is trespassing once you tell me to leave and not come back - so, of course, then the Police serve the paperwork and "we" don't come back and trespass. Doesn't keep them from being served and it irritates the Police.

Of course, I'm not showing up more than once nor am I harassing people and I DO have a legal reason for being there.

Same with matrimonials - I have no taste for them and have done just a few lately but there is no law broken when I am taking photos of people entering cars, leaving cars, entering and leaving houses/apartment buildings/motels. Not against the law.

Another thought came to mind. Quite posibly they are doing this to harass you with no intention of using the photos. You must have peed them off somehow.

Is there something interesting happening in your back yard?

But no, if you are in a public place or standing in a public place you are free to photograph things in that area. I worked for a PI some years ago part time, mostly serving papers but at times I got to follow people around and video them and/or photo them.

And it is entirely possible that the they are taking the pictures because they are planning some landscaping, and either like something in your yard or else want pictures of young trees so that they can take their mature size into account when planning for future shade. Not everything has nefarious reasons.