Can my neighbour come on to my property without my permission?
They regularly walk across my front yard. It’s worn a track in my lawn.
Penny
Richmond, BC
If someone comes onto your property without your permission, they’re trespassing. (Unless they have legal authority to come onto your property; an example would be a bylaw officer conducting an inspection.)
If the trespasser refuses to leave when asked, you can call the police.
That said, if it’s a neighbour, you'd do well to try gentler measures first. Have you tried talking with them? They may not realize how their behaviour impacts you. Here are tips for talking with your neighbour, guiding you through how to prepare for and have the conversation.
If talking things through doesn’t work, a next step might be putting up a sign on your property at the spot where your neighbour typically enters. It would reinforce for them that this is an important issue for you.
Lisa Frey
Lawson Lundell LLP