Flooding issue.

[FL Guy]

Please don’t mind the mess. I just got done building a fence on the back part of the property and that’s where all this garbage is coming from.

Anyhow, this picture shows the low area in my backyard against the side of the property. A few months ago we got a really bad, torrential downpour and I had water coming into my garage. My neighbor has a fence that belongs to him on the other side of my fence. He has not taken care of this fence since they have moved in. As you can see the fence is falling over and it is a complete mess. There are leaves and debris on the ground below the bushes on his side and it is approximately 8 to 12 inches thick. He just doesn’t give a sh*t!
This is preventing the water from my yard to properly drain through its natural course as everything flows in this direction. 3 houses north of me is the highest point in the neighborhood and everything naturally flows in my direction and continues on. This area will easily hold 4-6” of water during a good rainfall.
Looking for ideas on what if anything I can do about this situation. Thinking about a sump pump possibly?

Myself and the neighbor are not on speaking terms, maybe a little wave every now and then but that’s about it.

 

[PassnThru]

Please don’t mind the mess. I just got done building a fence on the back part of the property and that’s where all this garbage is coming from.

Anyhow, this picture shows the low area in my backyard against the side of the property. A few months ago we got a really bad, torrential downpour and I had water coming into my garage. My neighbor has a fence that belongs to him on the other side of my fence.

So you just built a fence on the other side of his fence? Did you build your fence before or after the torrential downpour? I'm not sure of the sequence of events here.

 

[Wolley]

I wouldn't blame the neighbor. Plants and trees absorb a lot more water than concrete and steel. And the bottom fence boards right on the ground are probably acting like a dam if you want drainage that way. Gutters on the building piped into a dry well is the solution

 

[DGersic]

Get a rake and remove the debris. If that’s all that is needed, be happy.

Otherwise, water flows downhill. Figure out where you want it to go, and that’ll tell you how to get it there. A pump is pretty much your last / worst option.

 

[Renegade1LI]

The problem is your responsible for the water on your property, not supposed to drain it to your neighbor. As Walley said, gutters dry well and some regrading is the better answer.

 

[Fixr]

The problem is your responsible for the water on your property, not supposed to drain it to your neighbor. As Walley said, gutters dry well and some regrading is the better answer.

This depends on local regulations. Around here, (very simplified) you are not allowed to block existing/natural drainage from a neighboring property, or to divert drainage onto it without proper procedures and permits, etc. The neighbor's fence and accumulated debris could well be judged as doing just that, which could even make him legally liable for the OPs flooding damage in some cases. Lots of room for argument, etc, but that's the gist of it.

As a first step, I would suggest a talk with the neighbor explaining the problem and offering to help clear the obstruction or even do it all. He may not object to someone else cleaning up a corner of his yard for free.