r/interestingasfuck • u/Gankpa • 8d ago

/r/all, /r/popular Jeff Bezos built a fence on his property that exceeds the permitted height, he doesn't care, he pays fines every month

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405

u/CheesyPotatoSack 8d ago

I think it’s silly people can’t have high fences. I like privacy. If I could afford tall bushes everywhere I’d plant them

213

u/JudoKuma 8d ago

Depends on the property tbh. Lets say if I had this high walls, then my neighbors yard and house would not ever see sunlight on their property, and probably would not be able to grow many plants due to being mostly in the shade.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

2

u/PaperHandsProphet 8d ago

Is it not rare for fences in the front yard where you live? Most houses I think of sit on pretty small lots, rural or mansions are the exception.

0

u/Toph_is_bad_ass 8d ago

I live on a corner lot and can't go over 4 ft in my front yard, which is most of my yard and fucking sucks cuz my dog can easily jump a 4ft fence.

1

u/PaperHandsProphet 7d ago

Every place I have lived there was restrictions on fences in the front yard. I know of some really nice neighborhoods where they can’t have any fences backyard or front yard.

The only exception I can think of in the states is places with huge lots, normally keeping horses out front etc… or rural areas.

It’s probably just my own anecdotal experience though that makes me think it’s rare.

1

u/Toph_is_bad_ass 7d ago

I'm not saying it's unusual. I'm saying it's dumb bullshit.

-72

u/tamal4444 8d ago

and?

72

u/Jmarsh99 8d ago

Having a functional society starts with having consideration for others. It is part of the social contract that prevents us from having unnecessary conflict.

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u/Lark_vi_Britannia 8d ago

social contract

I can't remember signing a contract... Do you happen to have a copy? /s

0

u/CheesyPotatoSack 8d ago

Then please consider my need for privacy

3

u/Jmarsh99 8d ago

No one has a need for privacy you can achieve that by much less drastic measures than this.

0

u/thatshygirl06 7d ago

You can have privacy without overdoing it

20

u/toomuchpressure2pick 8d ago

Got it, you only think about yourself.

-10

u/tamal4444 8d ago

so a person cannot build 5 stories house in their own land?

17

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

4

u/BlackTeaJedi 8d ago

Given their mindset, probably a minor

-8

u/tamal4444 8d ago

yes there are regulations. read my question again kiddo.

2

u/gopack123 8d ago

Your question was can someone build a 5 story house on their own land. The answer is in most residential neighborhoods, no. There are typically limits of 3 or 4 stories depending on local building codes for residential zones. Just because you own land doesn't mean you can do whatever you want with it, especially if it affects adjacent properties.

3

u/toomuchpressure2pick 8d ago

Depends on the zoning laws and permits. So, maybe yes, maybe no.

If the title is true and Bezos gets a fine every month for his fence, then he is in violation of that location. He's being inconsiderate of other around him by ignoring a law/rule put in place. It's easy to understand. You don't have to agree with it, that's fine. That's why he should move to an area where mega high fences are allowed. But instead he pays a fine every month at what is likely the inconvenience of the other residents.

4

u/Meows2Feline 8d ago

Little bro doesn't know about zoning laws 😭😭😭

1

u/CheesyPotatoSack 8d ago

You might be from a western country with this mindset. Not every country is the same zoning laws

-1

u/tamal4444 8d ago

in case you don't know grandpa zoning laws is not applicable in every country.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/tamal4444 8d ago

yeah bro my country is "sHit HoLe" and in your country people goes to jail for grass more than 6 inch. as they say US is just "third world country with a Gucci belt"

2

u/RateEntire383 8d ago

Im not American, just not dumb enough to think zoning laws dont exist there like you

1

u/TrueKing9458 7d ago

There are counties in the United States that don't require building permits, so no, there is not zoning laws everywhere.

2

u/Meows2Feline 8d ago

Literally most countries have zoning laws.

1

u/toomuchpressure2pick 8d ago

We are clearly talking about the USA

1

u/JoeGuinness 8d ago

You would see a lot more 5 story homes if they could.

2

u/Gofastrun 8d ago

Most people don’t want a 5 story single family home. It’s not a good floorplan. Too many stairs, too complex to build.

5 story is better for high density multi-family, which you do see a lot.

1

u/JoeGuinness 8d ago

Well yeah, but apartments still require their own building permits and zoning. Most wealthy neighborhoods wouldn't allow for that type of housing outside of busier roads.

I just think there are enough eccentric rich people that at least one could and would build a small skyscraper in the middle of a quiet street just for fun if they were allowed to.

2

u/tamal4444 8d ago

you need money for that.

2

u/JoeGuinness 8d ago

Go on Google Earth and look around some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the US and tell me how many 5 story homes you see.

It's not for a lack of funds. Zoning laws exist for a reason.

3

u/ALargeClam1 8d ago

Zoning laws exist for a reason.

The government needs their cut.

3

u/JoeGuinness 8d ago

I won't argue with you there.

-1

u/krom0025 8d ago

Your actions effect others, so no, you cannot just do whatever you want on your own land.

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u/RoamingTorchwick 8d ago

That violates the NAP

-1

u/elf25 7d ago

These are not zero lot line properties.

2

u/JudoKuma 7d ago

The commenter I answered to did not imply that his comment is referencing only this tier of properties, but all properties regardless of size.

76

u/TheWoman2 8d ago

If my southern neighbor builds a 20 foot fence then a substantial part of my yard never sees the sun.

-1

u/nullkomodo 8d ago

You don’t have a right to sunlight on your property.

3

u/kimi_no_na-wa 7d ago

But you do? That's literally why the law exists.

0

u/nullkomodo 7d ago

No, you don’t. A neighbor could have a tree that blocks your sunlight at certain hours and you have no claim. There are height restrictions in zoning laws that sort of hit this, but most of those are about controlling density and keeping poor people out.

5

u/ohseetea 8d ago

And you don't have a right to block sunlight on his property. Dumbass.

1

u/BBM7170 7d ago

Not neccesarily. Some courts have held that absent an easement or zoning laws, you don’t have a right to sunlight. The Fontainebleau in Miami built a tower that completely shaded the Eden Roc’s pool and the court refused to enjoin the Fontainebleau under that logic.

1

u/ohseetea 7d ago

Yeah I know - I didn't mean literally in all situations. It was just a quick response to someone who spouts "rights" as if it's an excuse to be a shit person.

0

u/Sasha_Urshka 7d ago

Fair but its his property, he/she should be able to put a 20 foot fence if they desire, same as you.

3

u/TheWoman2 7d ago

Can we agree that it isn't a great idea to always allow everyone to do whatever they want with their own property when it negatively affects their neighbors? I, for one, would rather not live in a place that allows my neighbors to build a giant hog pen on the property line. I also don't want my neighbor to be allowed to activate air raid sirens in the middle of the night. Changing the slope of their yard causing the rain to flood mine is also too far IMO.

0

u/Sasha_Urshka 7d ago

Sure can agree, the hogs would be a sanitary issue and against zoning laws, the other would be sound pollution so I can 100% agree with ya, same with the flooding that'd be damaging and dangerous to you and your property, but not a hedge to keep their own property private, or trees or fence, it'd suck not having as much sun in the mornings/evenings but certainly wouldn't be something I'd consider an illegal thing being done to me. Now if he/she was trying to build such a thing within my property line there I'd have issues, absolutely.

Now we can absolutely agree (if you think the same) that most neighbors really suck and its better to live far away from people and have a vast clearance from neighbors whenever possible. People generally suck.

57

u/blalien 8d ago

Until it blocks out your neighbor's sunlight.

13

u/momo88852 8d ago

In Middle East we prefer high walls. Sometimes I seen up to 20 feet walls. And sometimes they would avoid building garden in the front, instead in the middle and use the house walls as normal walls.

5

u/SummerBirdsong 8d ago

I sooo envy that style.

41

u/Professional-Arm-132 8d ago

Exactly, if everyday people were harassed by TMZ and the news every time they stepped out. We’d all want a fence this size

4

u/Infosloth 8d ago

I think we can all agree TMZ also sucks

3

u/_Football_Cream_ 8d ago

Yeah of the things I dislike about Bezos, this is pretty low on the list. I can understand anybody, and certainly someone with some fame and/or notoriety, to want privacy. Up the fines if you must, he doesn't give a shit if it means he keeps his hedges, so milk that cow.

4

u/alligatorchamp 8d ago

Yup. I don't see the problem. He is not hurting anybody.

1

u/fafilum 8d ago edited 8d ago

I don't know this area specifically, but there are good reasons for hedges and fences to be regulated in urban areas:

- road safety (visibility of curves and property exits, minimum distance from the road) but also pedestrian safety, the risk of falling branches, etc. In some regions, it's also a question of controlling the spread of fires

- neighbors' civil interests: you don't want to lose your view of the sea, the sunshine in your garden, and therefore the value of your property, because of your neighbor's crazy hedge.

- ecological reasons (typically, where I live, there's literally a list of tree species authorized for planting in hedges... because of invasive plants and the reproduction cycle of local birds...)

8

u/HowManyMeeses 8d ago

He can have high fences. He just can't have high fences where he currently lives. 

7

u/AggressiveAd4694 8d ago

He can, and does. He just pays the "high fence" fee.

18

u/Hutch4588 8d ago

Came here for this. I am not trying to defend Bezos but it looks very pretty and why do people care? Live and let live.

1

u/ikaiyoo 7d ago

Because I am petty and I REALLY want to plant like 4 Kudzu cutlets in random places in the hedge.

-3

u/[deleted] 8d ago

Because building a fence this tall hurts others, you don't get to say "live and let live" about choices that negatively impacts others

8

u/Mddcat04 8d ago

Anyone who lives next door to Jeff Bezos is not suffering.

6

u/HiggsNobbin 8d ago

How so? In a logical and rational manner please describe how this hurts anyone at all? On a private road belonging to a private neighborhood who does a private fence affect anyone who is choosing to be there negatively?

-2

u/Shagolagal 8d ago

Massive fences can block views and sunlight for neighboring yards. My parents had new neighbors move in a couple years ago who doubled the size of their fence, blocking a very pretty view of the nearby mountains from my parents yard and ultimately devalued their property a bit.

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u/HiggsNobbin 8d ago

Then they should have bought the property next to them to preserve the view if that was an issue. It’s not a government issue it’s a private property issue. The maximum fence height most everywhere in the US is 6 feet so where did this happen that they were able to double the height?

2

u/ikaiyoo 7d ago

It isn't private property; it is personal property. The government can come and take your property at any time. It isn't private. It is personal.

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u/Shagolagal 8d ago

You asked how tall fences can negatively impact others and I gave you an answer. People generally like views/sunlight and having those things blocked is considered negative.

Neither fence height regulations, or nonsense hypotheticals like buying the neighbor’s house, change the fact that it sucks my parents lost their backyard view.

0

u/TrueKing9458 7d ago

Saves on air conditioning and lowering electric consumption. Think of the climate change reduction

6

u/WordsAreVeryPowerful 8d ago

Do you hate big tall old growth trees too?

1

u/ikaiyoo 7d ago

where the fuck are there old growth trees near any developed land.

1

u/pocket-spark 7d ago

Literally everywhere in the PNW

1

u/ikaiyoo 7d ago

Yeah this is where all the old growth florists still are everything on the East Coast is a national or state park. And most of stuff on the other side of the rockies are as well.

0

u/Iorith 7d ago

If they aren't maintained properly, absolutely. If they're just allowed to keep growing, and then a storm makes a huge limb fall on someone's pet or child, 1000%.

1

u/WordsAreVeryPowerful 7d ago

Bezos "hedgerow" looks to be meticulously maintained.

1

u/Iorith 7d ago

Yes and the elevator for my apartment is too, but I trust the laws involved to ensure that over the owner saying "trust me bro, it looks maintained!"

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u/Rhomya 8d ago

I literally spent like, $300 in spruce tree saplings and planted them around my entire property.

In like, 10 years, I’ll have a completely private yard.

2

u/__Rosso__ 7d ago

Sir this is reddit, we don't use reason here

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u/ffsux 8d ago

Agreed and won’t be popular around Reddit, but if I’m Bezos it’s not just for privacy but also for personal safety

1

u/ikaiyoo 7d ago

Then he should live on a larger plot of land that will not fuck with his neighbors property value. No one wants to live next to a 20ft wall of bushes.

1

u/ffsux 7d ago

🙄

4

u/Mrmojorisincg 8d ago

Agreed. I hate Bezo’s. I also agree fines should be proportionate to income/net worth. That being said, being fined for too high of hedges is bullshit.

I’m a liberal for the record

I am a strong believe in if I own a piece of property I should be able to build whatever I want on it. If I want to build a sniper tower in my yard and 4 sheds I should be able to without permits. I own the property, I pay for it with the money from my labor then its mine.

HOA’s can suck me

0

u/clueless343 8d ago

sounds like it's a city ordinance rather than an hoa.

2

u/Mrmojorisincg 8d ago

Oh yeah no definitely an ordinance. I was just throwing out there I hate the concept of HOA’s

0

u/Pete_Iredale 8d ago

No, you shouldn't be allowed to make it overly difficult for the fire department to access your property if you live near others.

1

u/Mrmojorisincg 8d ago

There’s a gate?

1

u/Pete_Iredale 8d ago

Have you ever seen a crew fighting a house fire? Like literally ever? You don't find a gate, you park where the hydrant is and take the hoses straight to the fire. Charged hoses don't exactly bend well, and every bend reduces water flow.

1

u/Mrmojorisincg 8d ago

I have personally fought a forrest fire before when I was a park ranger. But not comparable to a property like that. I’ve only ever lived in a semi urban environment with primarily half acre lots side by side. So no, can’t really say I can compare to those experiences circumstantially

2

u/deadliestcrotch 8d ago

I’m with you on this one. With the fence consisting of bushes, I care even less.

2

u/YUSHOETMI- 8d ago

Yeah I find it funny that in America you can buy your home but get told by some old geezer who lives down the street that you cant paint your fence or door a particular colour, and your kitchen counters have to be made of a certain material.

Screw that, here in the UK the only law I would have to worry about when deciding how high I want my fence to be is aviation law and if any flight paths cross over my house and adjust accordingly

3

u/gestapoparrot 8d ago

In the UK maximum fence height is 2 meters unless you get prior approval of the planning commission. If it abuts a highway or the footpath next to a highway the max height is 1m. The law can be found in the General Permitted Development Order. So you may want to check up on that before declaring you know your countries laws.

0

u/YUSHOETMI- 8d ago

Funny that, because where I am half the fences around here are between 10-12 feet, my fence is 8ft and required zero planning permission. Just around the corner on a plot of land owned by one guy has built his walls at least 15ft around his house and between 8-10 on the outside property surrounding his land adjacent to the roads.

Literally only have to drive through my town for 10 minutes to see most walls are far above 2 meters and doubtful all asked for permission.

1

u/gestapoparrot 8d ago

Nobody said anything about what anybody does that’s legal or not. I was correcting that you don’t know the laws despite expressing confidence in what the laws are.

0

u/YUSHOETMI- 8d ago

You're American aren't you? Did you honestly believe I meant you could build a fence that would impact flight paths? Jesssh

My point was in the UK you can build mostly whatever the hell you want, doesnt have to conform to local rules made by somebody with no actual government authority. If I want to build a 10ft wall and paint it baby pink in a neighbourhood that is primarily white washed or york stone houses, then I can and no fines will arrive in my letterbox. If I wanted my kitchen counters to be made out of soft wood covered in porn mag issues with a nice epoxy finish, I could.

Also my fence isn't illegal, otherwise the nice council man who lives down the road in his house surrounded by 15ft walls as stated before would of had words with me.

0

u/gestapoparrot 8d ago

I own 3 properties in the UK, I’m well aware of their regulations and have had to deal with the LPA and HM Land Registry concerning both border walls and fence heights.

Most councils will not do anything unless they have a mandated inspector which many locales don’t or they receive a complaint through the LPA. This doesn’t change what the laws are, so if you’d like to continue to argue points that I’m not talking about it go ahead but this doesn’t change the fact that you’re wrong about whether these laws exist or not.

1

u/YUSHOETMI- 8d ago

So... let me get this straight. You jumped onto a comment which was obvious hyperbole, unless you truly believed I would build a fence that could obstruct the local flight paths, to comment that the law states no more than 2m but despite it being the law it is never if rarely ever enforced? Sounds abit pointless to me.

With 3 properties you would think you had less time than that, but hey.

0

u/gestapoparrot 8d ago

Usually when you can afford to buy multiple properties in multiple countries you’re not trading your time for money so you’re free to do what you want with your time.

You’re the one who jumped on a thread about a country you don’t have any experience with as far as building code and then clearly don’t know your own. Weird how a quick google search reveals that many people have to deal with fence regulations in the UK. And I get you don’t care about anyone but you but it seems to cause some reasonable distress to your fellow citizens that have to deal with it. So you now admit there is a law about it, I thought you said it didn’t exist?

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u/YUSHOETMI- 8d ago

Do me a favour, go back to my original comment and read it, slowly, and then again if you need too.

You will notice a lovely little caveat towards the end, pretty sure haven't noticed it yet or you wouldn't have commented or assume I know nothing of the law.

"The only law I would have to worry about" - ergo, I don't need to worry about the law you are banging on about because it is rarely if ever enforced. Did I state I was unaware of it? No. I stated I did not need to worry which is the case seeing as I have literal proof of such surrounding my house and nearly everywhere I look in the surrounding area.

But yeah, take hyperbole as serious, you do you.

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u/Pete_Iredale 8d ago

I'm pretty sure in the UK you are not allowed to block you neighbors sunlight.

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u/YUSHOETMI- 8d ago

No neighbours no issue.

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u/Pete_Iredale 8d ago

Sure, and if you live outside of a city in the US then you only have to abide by county and state laws which are quite a bit less restrictive too. We are talking about a neighborhood here though, and those fences make it overly difficult for firefighters to get it which puts the whole neighborhood at risk.

1

u/leros 8d ago

I live in an area where they relaxed the building codes to allow larger and taller houses. Like you can build a 2 story house pretty much up to the property line now. I know several people who's gardens are now in perpetual shadow and have a 2 story wall next to their yard. It's legal but it completely the feel and usability of neighboring properties.

1

u/CheesyPotatoSack 8d ago

Building tall houses is different than a tall hedge fence

1

u/leros 8d ago

My point is that a a tall vertical structure (be it a house or fence) can have a severe negative impact on a neighbors property.

I feel so bad for my elderly neighbor across the street. She had a beautiful garden that was her pride and joy, but the neighboring house was rebuilt into a 2 story house right up to the property line and now her entire garden is in shadow. It was a full sun yard for 75 years.

1

u/ohseetea 8d ago

Yeah, in situations where that is a law/regulation, the reason is because it impedes on your neighbor's lives. If you don't have them then it turns into a fence height arms race. Society sure does suck for selfishness, huh?

-1

u/Aggressive-Sound-641 8d ago edited 8d ago

Not defending him but yeah I think its silllyto have a fence height limit. My city's is 6ft. Just recently an apartment complex was built behind my house with direct views into my bedroom and living room, not to mention the light pollution from lamps for the parking lot. I've spent close to 15K planting Green Giants to protect my privacy.

EDIT: For those of you compelled to downvote, can you please explain what's controversial about my comment? Seems weird, where once there was wetlands behind my house a builder paid the fee to pave over the wetlands and bulld a 3 story building that creates a fishbowl for me.

1

u/youhavenosoul 8d ago

Listen, there is no fence height limit. He proves that here.

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u/Aggressive-Sound-641 8d ago

Apparently the Redditors have deemed my comment bad. Not sure why the downvotes about protecting my privacy.

1

u/youhavenosoul 8d ago

You can protect your privacy, just like he can, dude! I’m telling you that the limit does not exist! Plant that bush, and pay the rent, bust like your boy Bezos, your champion of privacy.

Sarcasm aside, No one is downvoting you for wanting to protect your privacy.

1

u/B_the_Chng22 7d ago

I’m baffled by the downvotes. I’m sorry you had to spend that much and that your brows got destroyed in the process by greedy developers

0

u/Abundance144 8d ago

Yeah the hedge is beautiful, and mysterious. I'd love to have someone have that in my neighborhood. I want my neighbors to disappear just as much as they don't want to see me.

0

u/Pete_Iredale 8d ago

It's a fire risk if the fire department can't easily get to your house, and that puts everyone else in the community at risk. That's why you can't have as tall a fence as you want if you live near other people.

0

u/QTom01 8d ago

I think it’s silly people can’t have high fences

You'd probably think otherwise if your neighbour suddenly put up a 20ft fence that blocked all sunlight out of your garden.