Hey guys

Just moved to Texas from Florida - bought a home in the heights Houston - love it - Question about easements legalities

We have a pool that butts up to our back fence, since the freeze & our ivy died we've realized we need to replace our fence (doing it ourselves this month)

I wanted to create about 2 feet of additional space between my fence & pool to plant some barrier trees & between my neighbors 2nd floor windows and our pool. We would be encroaching in an abandoned, overgrown alley way - but just slightly (again 2 feet).

One side of the street isn't accessible due to electrical boxes & gas pipes, the other side is.

We wouldn't be obstructing access to telephone poles...give me some positive news here.

https://texags.com/forums/59/topics/2745347

You're wanting to relocate your yard fence 2' onto the adjoining easement separating your property from your neighbor's?

Recommend you do it in one day so as to lessen the likelihood your neighbor notices you've moved it. Although he cannot force you to move it, he can rat you out to the city/utilities. Is it a risk worth taking? If your neighbor doesn't turn you in, you'll probably be fine.

In 1995, I moved my fence in Bellaire five feet into an abandoned city water easement. Not sure you want to deal with this route, but I got approval from the city to take over half of the easement.

Worst thing that happens is you have to move it back - but that shouldn't happen unless you've got really ****ty neighbors.

That's true but Heights people are famous for being noisy neighbors who get in your business so this is almost guaranteed to get called into the city.

I've seen it done a number of times with no issue, including behind my previous home in the Heights area. But yeah, all it takes is someone to call it in.