Neighbor's Beeping Animal Repellent is Repelling Humans Too
My neighbor has installed an animal repellent device that lets out beeping sounds in the range of 13khz to 19khz. Older adults can't hear this sound, but me and my kids are able to hear it. It is triggered by a motion sensor. He has installed it in his backyard, which faces my backyard also. This sound is extremely annoying, to the point where I can't stand being in my backyard longer than 5 minutes. It is being triggered almost constantly throughout the afternoon. It gives me headaches and ringing in my ear. My kids who enjoy being outside are avoiding the yard now. We have gone to his door and tried to speak to him politely, but he refuses to turn it off so we ended up calling the police's non-emergency number. They came over, heard the sound, but said it wasn't loud enough for him to be breaking the law. They said they would talk to him, but that didn't make any difference. The sound is still there. My question is: Do any of you have any recommendations on how to block the sound coming into my yard. We have a wooden fence between us, but it doesn't do any good. Does anybody out there have any experience with acoustics? What materials would absorb this sound at this frequency? Something that maybe we can do ourselves without having to spend so much money.
Parent Replies
Maybe you can sue him in small claims court or hey an injunction. Even if he's not breaking the law per se, if your neighbor did something to affect the use of your property there has to be something you can do. Maybe a local ordnance you can invoke.
You could also try the nice route one more time. What animal is he supposed to be repelling? Maybe offer to pay for an alternate option? Maybe he can lower the device closer to the ground?
You could also go the annoying route and put something annoying to him in your back yard. Something smelly or loud.
No idea about how to keep the sound out. Generally speaking flat surfaces reflect sound and textured or wavy will disperse. A solid wall will help, but the sound may come over the top. It could also reflect off your wall, into his house, and back at you.
If he can't hear the sound because he's too old you could "fix" the device with a little clear nail polish or similar to muffle the speakers. This would technically be illegal since you would be trespassing and then harming his property. I assume if you are caught it's not just bad blood, but you'd have to pay to replace the unit.
I'm not advocating this route, but it is an option.
Since it's not illegal right now, you can also petition your city council to make the device illegal.
You may be able to do something legally because he's denying you use to your own property. Document everything.
This sounds like it interfere with your enjoyment of your property, which is a definition of a nuisance. If you are unable to block it, I would threaten to bring a nuisance suit, which I think would have some legs.