Landscaping and Your Neighbours: How to Avoid Conflicts Before They Start

Landscaping projects are exciting — until your neighbour's fence is suddenly six inches on your property, or their rose garden is now buried under your wall's drainage gravel. After 18 years of building in Osoyoos and Oliver, we've seen plenty of neighbourly goodwill strained over property line misunderstandings, unexpected noise, and construction materials stored in front of nearby homes. The good news? Most neighbour conflicts during landscaping are entirely preventable. Here's how to handle it right.

Talk to Your Neighbours Before We Start

The single most effective thing you can do is let your neighbours know about your project before work begins — not the day the excavator arrives. A brief conversation or even a note in the mailbox goes a long way. Tell them:

• What the project is and roughly how long it will take
• That there will be noise during working hours (typically 7 AM – 6 PM)
• That materials may be stored on the street temporarily
• That dust and debris are possible, especially during excavation

Neighbours who feel informed are far more tolerant than those who feel blindsided. We're happy to answer questions from your neighbours before we start — just let us know and we'll introduce ourselves on day one.

Confirm Your Property Lines First

This is the biggest source of disputes. In older neighbourhoods in Osoyoos and Oliver, fences are often placed approximate to property lines rather than exactly on them. If you're building a fence, wall, or any structure near a boundary, confirm your property lines before we break ground. Options include:

• Find your survey stakes: Pink or orange flags/markers from your original property survey — often still in place
• Review your title documents: Your property survey is on file with the Land Title Office
• Hire a BC Land Surveyor: If in doubt, a surveyor can legally mark your property corners

We take property line work seriously. Before installing any fence or wall near a boundary, we discuss the line with you and encourage you to confirm with your neighbour that you're both in agreement on where the line sits. A five-minute conversation prevents months of conflict.

Shared Fence Costs

In British Columbia, neighbours who share a boundary fence may be legally obligated to share maintenance costs equally under the Partition Fence Act. However, this applies to maintaining existing fences, not necessarily building a new one. If you and your neighbour want to split the cost of a new boundary fence, that's a private agreement between you — and it's worth getting in writing before we start. We can build a fence that satisfies both parties' requirements when neighbours approach us together.

During Construction: What to Expect

Landscaping and hardscaping projects create temporary disruptions. Here's what neighbours can expect and what you can do to stay on good terms:

• Noise: Excavators, plate compactors, and masonry saws are loud. We work standard hours and don't start before 7 AM.
• Street materials: We often store wall blocks, sand, or gravel on the road in front of adjacent properties for a few days. We try to minimize this and always restore the street fully before leaving.
• Dust: Sandy South Okanagan soil creates dust during digging. If your neighbour has vehicles or outdoor furniture, a heads-up helps them move things or cover them temporarily.
• Access: For some projects we need equipment access along property boundaries. We always ask permission and leave those areas clean.

Drainage and Runoff: Your Responsibility

Any landscaping that changes grading — retaining walls, paving, turf removal — can redirect water flow. In Osoyoos and Oliver where summer thunderstorms and spring snowmelt can be intense, drainage matters. You cannot legally direct water runoff onto a neighbour's property. We plan drainage carefully on every project, and we recommend discussing grading changes with adjacent property owners if there's any chance runoff paths will shift.

If a Dispute Does Arise

If a neighbour raises a concern during our work, tell us immediately. We'd rather pause and address the issue directly than let it escalate. Most construction disputes come down to miscommunication, and a direct conversation usually resolves things faster than formal complaints. The Town of Osoyoos and Town of Oliver both have bylaw officers who handle fence and construction disputes — but getting there is a last resort, not a first step.

The Bottom Line

Osoyoos and Oliver are small, tight-knit communities. Your neighbours will see your finished project every day — and so will you. Starting the conversation early, confirming property lines, and communicating through construction makes the whole process better for everyone. We'll do our part to be respectful, clean, and professional neighbours throughout the project.

Questions before starting a project near your property line? Call us at 250-485-8830 or reach out through our website. We're happy to advise on the best approach before we start.