If the roots start on his property, do I also own the space above my property line, and have the right to not have anything overhang my property? I will have the added expense of now trimming my side? Is there any rule how high a shrub can be? Is there anyway to prevent the roots of his shrubs from going under my front lawn?

He is really defacing and ruining the look of my property with this as well as the look of the block, but I don't think I have any options.

Do I?

If it obstructs your view exiting the driveway for safety reasons, you have another issue that you are probably on the right side of. For cosmetic reasons, not so much.

I agree with jimbo that a hedge is not such a terrible thing but there is maintenance required to keep it healthy and looking good. If not, you could end up with an eyesore. I'm not sure how it can deface your property????

You may just be reluctant to accept the change in ownership. I just got some new neighbors that actually use their outdoor space and even put up a basketball hoop in the driveway. kaplump, kaplump, kaplump The two prior occupants (house rental due to slumping sales market), were hermits and were barely seen or heard from. I miss them!

But basketball hoops and hedges and fences are part of neighborhoods, so you may just have to buck up. You will have this neighbor for awhile and may want to stay on decent terms. Maybe there's something in your yard they want to create a screen for???

There is only a narrow strip of grass at the edge of my front lawn that might be his and then the concrete to his driveway starts. There really isn't enough room to plant a hedge. It will definitely encroach on my property, and he knows that from the start. If I have the rights above the property line I should also have the rights below it, and the right to remove any roots on my property.

I'm a good, reasonable person, but I don't want this hedge as it will deface my property, and I want him to know I will do EVERYTHING legally possible to not have it there. I'm not being picky. I am defending my right to not have the look and value of my property compromised. There isn't a house on this block worth less than $1,250,000.

I will call the building department. Any idea what city agency is responsible for ordinances?

Thanks again.

"There is only a narrow strip of grass at the edge of my front lawn that might be his and then the concrete to his driveway starts."

Unless you have a survey in your hands and can find your markers this entire discussion is going nowhere.
You need to know exactly where the property line is before you go fighting over it.

Probably so, but then you will most certainly disfigure the hedge compounding the problem.

Is there an HOA involved? Some of these pricey neighborhoods have one. If so, they probably are "in charge of what the block should look like".

If I were you, I'd have my property surveyed right away and property lines very visibly marked. I hope that you get the answers you want from the City Codes department.

One of the problems witb these McNeighborhoods is lack of ability to do anything w/o upsetting someone. So much for actually owning property. Here comes big government. Move out by me where none of the houses match and you can be an individual with a couple acres instead of a drone for 1/5th that hassle.

Does anybody actually garden around there? Sounds a bit...stodgy.

I believe that as long as blondelle's situation doesn't fall into one of the limitations listed above, he/she has a right to determine what grows onto/over/under his/her property. It doesn't really matter what we think we would like, it's about what blondelle likes, since he/she owns the property. If the neighbors can keep the hedge on their property (and no HOA guidelines or laws are violated), then blondelle should have no say-so about the planting.

The responsibility for getting a survey (and paying for it) belongs to the neighbor, not the OP, in the majority of jurisdictions.

The kind with the white and green alternating stripes? Remind me to never get you mad.

That would be the exception, NOT the rule.

"The responsibility for getting a survey (and paying for it) belongs to the neighbor, not the OP, in the majority of jurisdictions."

It may be the responsibility of the neighbor to get the survey before planting, but if he doesn't, then so what. The OP would have to PROVE that the plantings were planted onto their property. No state, of which I am aware, requires a survey before planting trees on one's own property. SO the proof falls back onto the person who's property borders were infringed.

This example may seem whacky, but it's like saying a robber must get permission before entering your home.

I can think of two reasons not to:

It is not free and either because of the economy, medical issues or whatever you might be broke right now

Or if I hated my neighbor since he she or it may whatever I might wait until they plant their trees or pave their driveway and make them undue it at their cost. Seems like more trouble than most nice ppl would wanna cause though but I would understand.

Really the right thing to do is be pro-active. Know your boundaries, communicate with the neighbors like humans. And of course they might be butt heads and uncle sam will have to step in to save the day.

that being said...in my experience, the neighbor's plants can overhang your yard. I know of nothing in any legal code or community covenant I have ever come across thwt wouldbrequire anplant on your property be kept entirely on your property. And if you object to the offending branches, I know of nothing that would prevent you from cutting them back. However if any action of yours would cause the plants to die...

yeah. this sounds like like we should sell popcorn.