I recently bought my house, and I've noticed that my neighbor's power line crosses over my property and clears my detached garage by about 18 inches. It runs from a pole in my other neighbor's yard, over my yard, and then to my neighbor's panel over my fence. The power line moves quite a bit in the wind, which makes it feel pretty sketchy, though it hasn't touched the garage yet. To top it off, having the wire running diagonally across my yard for over 100 feet is an eyesore. I'm wondering if the power company (Socal Edison) could relocate it. I assume they would need to make a midspan connection, but why should I have to deal with the neighbor's problem?
6 Answers
Consider whether there's an easement that allows the power line to cross your property. Did you get a title survey done? That could clarify things about the line's legality across your property.
You might have to deal with this mainly because it's affecting you directly. The power company probably won’t take action unless you're ready to cover any costs involved in moving the line.
This definitely seems like a code violation based on how the line is set up. Make sure your garage is compliant before raising concerns about the power line.
I had a similar situation with some utility lines. There are usually codes regarding clearance for structures, and one term that might help you here is "aerial trespassing." It's worth bringing up when you talk to the power company.
Yeah, I did some digging too, and it seems like "aerial trespassing" is legit terminology. Given that my neighbor isn’t exactly friendly (their rottweiler likes to act tough), it should be interesting when they find out I reported this!
I recommend calling the electric company first to verify if that line is authorized. Ask them if it meets code requirements in its current state. They might also be able to adjust the line to ensure it’s not a hazard for your garage.
If clearance is a real issue, the power company may ask your neighbor to raise their service mast at their own expense. It'd be better for them to think it’s the company enforcing codes, not you making a fuss. Plus, there’s a thing called Prescriptive Rights that might come into play if that line has been there a long time.
There is an easement at the back for 10 feet, but nothing says they have one for the diagonal route across my yard.