What Can I Do About a Harassing Neighbor's Cameras, Chemicals, and Property Damage in California?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
My neighbor is harassing my family. He has lights and a camera aimed into our windows, and he has shot an air gun near a pipe on his property. I reported this to the police, who told me I had to video him shooting raccoons. The code enforcement department said they will not address the pipe because it is not up to code, and they will not tell him to move the lights or cameras. I also recorded chemical weed killer drifting about eight feet into my yard and hitting my patio, and I have video of tree trimmers shredding a palm tree over my untouched, almost-classic car.
Yes I have they said I had to video tape him shooting raccoon s and code department said they will not address the pipe that is not coded. Or they will not tell them to move their lights or cams. It’s possible I recorded chemical weed killer coming 8 feet into my yard hitting my patio. Having tree trimmers shred palm tree over my untouch almost classic one own car on video.
Attorney Answer
You are describing several different problems that California law treats separately: property damage, chemical drift onto your land, invasive lighting and cameras, and a pattern of conduct that may qualify as civil harassment. Since police and code enforcement have not resolved this, your strongest remaining options are mostly civil, not through those two agencies.
California Civil Code § 3479 defines a nuisance broadly as anything that is injurious to health, offensive to the senses, or that obstructs the free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property. Chemical spray drifting onto your patio and debris from tree trimming landing on your car can both support a nuisance and trespass claim, since something physically crossed onto your property and caused damage without your permission. For the damage to your car specifically, this is also a straightforward property damage claim, and California's statute of limitations for that kind of claim is generally three years from the date of the damage, so keep dated records and photos of the paint, dents, or other harm.
For the lights and cameras, California generally allows security cameras on one's own property, but that right is not unlimited, especially if a camera is positioned specifically to look into your home's windows rather than to monitor the neighbor's own property. Keep documenting exactly where the cameras and lights point and when they were installed.
Given the pattern here, repeated conduct along with the chemical incident and property damage, you may also have grounds to seek a civil harassment restraining order under California Code of Civil Procedure § 527.6, which is available when someone's course of conduct seriously alarms or harasses you and serves no legitimate purpose.
What you can do
1. Keep saving all video, photos, and dated notes, including the weed killer drift and the car damage. 2. Get a written repair estimate for the car damage to document your losses. 3. Send, or have an attorney send, a written demand letter describing the property damage and asking for repair costs. 4. Ask a local attorney about filing for a civil harassment restraining order if the conduct continues. 5. Consider small claims court for the property damage if the dollar amount is modest and you would rather handle it without a lawyer.
This is general legal information, not legal advice about your specific situation. A California attorney who handles neighbor disputes and nuisance claims can review your evidence and advise on the strongest path forward.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue my neighbor for pointing cameras at my windows?
It depends on the specifics, but if a camera is aimed to capture the inside of your home rather than the neighbor's own property, you may have a claim for invasion of privacy in addition to a nuisance claim. Document exactly what the camera can see and when it was installed.
What is a civil harassment restraining order in California?
It is a court order available under Code of Civil Procedure § 527.6 when someone engages in a pattern of conduct that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses you and has no legitimate purpose. It can require the person to stay away from you and stop the specific conduct.
Should I keep contacting the police and code enforcement if they haven't acted?
It's still worth documenting each contact, since a record of your reporting efforts can support a later civil case. But if they are not resolving it, you don't have to wait on them before pursuing a civil claim or restraining order.
