property
Property Line Question in Colorado
<p>We purchased a home in May of 2019 (in Colorado).  One side of our property is enclosed by a fence belonging to the neighbor.  Therefore, there is equipment on one side of our house that we cannot access.  We had a contractor out to do work for our cable in which case, they needed to access this equipment and our neighbor refused even when the police were called.  Our HOA told us that all we can do is call the police or mediator.  Are there laws to help us?</p>

<p>You have to sue the neighbor to get the fence removed (or threaten to do so) – let your attorney do the threatening. If you wait too long, it becomes his property, via adverse possession. Only the court can force him to remove the fence (the police will respond usefully in a potentially criminal matter, but they will not force the neighbor to remove his fence and they will not render a legal opinion as to the propriety of his fence). After (usually) 18 years of openly claiming your land against your will, he can take action to officially take the land. However, if could be <a href="https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-38-property-real-and-personal/co-rev-st-sect-38-41-106.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">as short as 7 years</a> if there is a government document that indicates that he has title to the land, such as paying property taxes on the land.</p>
