Nuisance

What it means

A condition or activity that substantially interferes with someone's ability to use and enjoy their property. A private nuisance affects one person or a few neighbors. A public nuisance affects the community at large. Examples include constant loud noise, noxious odors, accumulation of garbage, illegal activity on the property, or hazardous conditions. A nuisance claim can be brought in court to get an order stopping the behavior, plus money damages for harm already caused.

When you might hear this

You hear this when a neighbor's behavior — noise, smells, hazards — is so bad that it interferes with the use and enjoyment of nearby property. Nuisance can be a legal claim in court.

What to ask