For Los Angeles County see:
http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/counties/Los_Angeles/zoning.html
https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=16274

Those links have sent me off on some very interesting, possibly helpful, paths.
I appreciate your taking the time to get them for me.

Preface every answer with "In most places..."

Is it legal to dig giant holes at the edge of your property without being sure of the property lines?

Yes, but it's not a good idea to dig that close to the property line without surveying first. Digging on your own property, okay if you follow regulations...more on that later. Dig even 1" over the property line and you're asking for a lawsuit.

Is it legal to dig giant holes in your property without some sort of permit?

No. That would be a regulated activity. I had a meeting about this earlier, discussing a man here in CT that went out in the middle of the night and dug himself a sewage pond on his property for his pig farm without a permit we refused to issue. The pond was to be lined in concrete and used to store pig feces. Needless to say, we're making him fill in the hole and forbidding him to construct a sewage pond on his property as P&Z ordinances here forbid them.

Is it legal to house people in an RV on your property?

Depends on the size of the RV. Here if it's longer than 27' or has a electric, sewage or gas hookup, it's considered a permanent structure and requires a C of O that we will not issue. (Strangely, we also have a "no micro houses" ordinance. The 400sqft home of my dreams...not legal. )

Is it legal to put in an RV hookup? No, not without a permit. In fact, most places that kind of digging is illegal if you have not called the local utilities for come out and mark existing gas lines, electrical lines, water lines, etc.

These are really helpful answers!

And how odd about the micro-houses - I love those, too!

Also setbacks for sewage systems as well as permits needed. Digging usually requires a grading permit unless it is agricultural - which this clearly isn't.

Almost positive that some ordinances have been violated here. Call code enforcement on them and they will likely issue a cease work order until it can all be sorted out.

Foundations and sewage and electricity usually mean permits are needed, especially close to property lines.
People do the stupidest things sometimes. My parents called the health dept over a neighbor's trailer that had the sewage pipe emptying into the creek next door.

How gross!

And thank you so much, Lars!

Got some numbers from the links above, and will be spending tomorrow on the phone.

Hopefully they'll move him up with the horses.

by the discreet and proper placement of an appropriate amount of high explosives.




J/K.....

Seems you have gotten some good answers.


Santa Clarita?

Agua Dulce?

Acton?

Leona Valley?

Palmdale?

I ask cause you said; "We live in Los Angeles county, about an hour north of the city."

I lived in Palmdale in the early '00's.

Lots of pretty countryside up the 14 corridor.

We've thought about speakers and floodlights.

The Lakes, actually.
Lake Hughes.

And yes, it's beautiful up here - even after all the fires...

If scary Grandpa needs money, maybe he can buy a condo and get outta your line of vision.

And we offered to help do any work clearing land on the horse property.
That was during the conversation they then ignored.

But scary grandpa wants a house!
Not some apartment.

Beggars can apparently be choosers.

I lived on 15 acres and structures have to be at least 30 feet from the property line, so 60 feet would be the closest that structures could built (30 +30). For me, that's still too close. The septic, or is it a sewer line, would be a legal issue. My land is zoned RU4, with only one residence allowed per 4 acres. What is your zoning?

Been on the phone with some very nice people with many different departments of the DPW.

My husband is out measuring, so we can have exact numbers.

Thank you for pointing me in that direction - I'm learning a lot about property rights.

I would be checking out zoning, ordinances, building codes, etc. Depending on the size of your town, it could merit a simple visit to a code officer.

You can't even put a fence in without checking property lines and the local ordinances. Some towns you can put fences in right on the line. Others require a set back of some number of feet.

Whatever it is they're doing that requires a 10' ditch (sounds like a basement to me) probably requires a permit. An RV hookup will require a permit. What are they doing about septic? They can't just dump pee and poop into your hollow.

They clearly are taking major advantage of you. Time to look into the local laws, determine what "i"s they haven't dotted and "t"s they haven't crossed. And get a cease and desist.

And don't bother catching their loose dogs or horses any more. Or catch the dogs and take them to a shelter, and call animal control to pick up any loose horses.

You've got a lot of good, practical advice here, and I can't add anything, except GOOD LUCK! I think you've got the law on your side and all it'll take is some time and effort on your part.

Your neighbors are way off base. They're about to find out just how far off base they are, too.

Too bad.

Glad you were able to get some direction from folks here. I've no doubt this will get worked out for you. But in the process, I would be very, very watchful of vile, hateful grandpa with his firearms. If he's in dire straits already, no telling what he'll take it in his head to do when his plans are thwarted, as it looks like they will be.

Stay safe.

put a permanent structure on that spot. It also seems like they are trying to avoid having a serious conversation with you about their intentions.

Beyond dealing with all the research issues relating to permits, zoning, and so on you might want to consider what proactive measures that you could try. I like the idea of a motion activated major bright security light (that way they cannot complain about you leaving a bright light on all the time). If you are comfortable that you know where the property line is you might want to consider putting in the tallest fence possible between you and crazy Grand Pa. Most importantly, you might want to have some security cameras installed covering the area between your house and crazy Grand Pa (video evidence can be your friend). Document document document everything (video, pictures, audio, written notes, info gained from your County and so on.

I would be really really concerned about the gun issue if he is that crazy. I would add the local Sheriff/Police on speed dial. Any time that he does anything that creates legitimate concern for your safety, call the cops. If he does it enough time you might be able to build a case for a Victim's Protective Order and that might take care of the proximity issue.

Maybe EBF Kentucky and get a few dozen acres to keep a buffer zone.

Working remotely makes it easy in these times.

are busy researching them now.

I wish you both well.

If at all possible try to keep communication lines open with your neighbors (not the scary grandpa but the others who were your friends).

I know it may be beyond the point of no return, since they haven't returned your text. But I wonder if it might be possible to invite them over for dinner or drinks or something. To give them a sense that you're all still human beings, which is always the best basis for working things out to everyone's best interests.

The reason I say this is because I've seen situations where both sides start going the legal route and it can escalate quickly, causing strain, financial hardship and hurt feelings for all.

It's great getting all the information you can. Knowledge is power.

Don't forsake the human element of friendliness and contact, unless as a last resort.

These never end well, no matter what you do. Get a real estate attorney, tie them up and put your home for sale. If they are doing, what others on this forum think they are, your house value will tube. Not to mention, no one will want that house to nutty grandpa being that close.

I've heard too many neighbors problems in my life, if you can move, then that is what you should do. Less stress all around.