How to Cope With Naked Neighbors

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: April 28, 2020 References

A lot of people have privacy concerns when they’re dealing with the people in their neighborhood. However, if your neighbors enjoy walking around completely in the buff, you may have a whole different set of problems on your hand. Whether they’re in their home or in their yard, chances are, your nude neighbors aren’t breaking any laws unless they’re acting in a lewd manner. However, there still may be a few things you can do to help avoid seeing too much of the people next door.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating Visual Barriers

1
Hang curtains or blinds if you can see the neighbors from inside your house. The easiest way to block yourself from viewing your nude neighbor is to close off any windows that provide a line of sight to their home. If you mostly see them from a certain room, hang curtains or install blinds over the windows.
- While this won’t keep you from seeing the neighbor if you’re outside, it can help if you accidentally catch quick flashes while you’re walking from room to room or enjoying your coffee in the morning.
- If you’d prefer to keep some natural light, hang sheer curtains or leave your blinds partially open.
Tip: You might also consider installing a reflective tint on the windows. It won’t necessarily block your view of your neighbor, but seeing their own reflection might make them aware that you can see them too.
2
Plant hedges or trees to block your view if you’re a property owner. Dense, fast-growing hedges like Italian cypress and arborvitae are perfect for adding more privacy to your yard. Space the shrubs about 12 in (30 cm) apart, and before long, you’ll have a natural wall of greenery to look at instead of the naked person next door. If you can see down into their yard from the top stories of your home, consider planting trees that will branch out into a canopy, like dogwoods, oaks, maples, or fruit trees.^{[1]
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- Try planting perennials in front of your hedges or around the base of your trees to turn your natural privacy fence into a beautiful garden.
- Even if you don’t own your own home, you may be able to get permission from the property owner to plant shrubs if you talk to them about the problem.
- Always call your local utility company to be sure there aren’t any buried pipes or lines before you dig in your yard.
3
Build a fence or a wall if you need a permanent solution. If your naked neighbor owns their home and you own yours, chances are, neither of you will be going anywhere for a while. Try building a fence that’s about 6 ft (1.8 m) high, running all the way down the property line between your home and your neighbor’s.^{[2]
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- Wood, stone, and brick are popular materials for outdoor fences.
- Plant flowers along the border of the fence if you’re concerned it won’t be attractive.
4
Try to avoid looking over at your neighbor’s house if you can. Sometimes, the simplest thing you can do is just to avert your eyes, especially if there are certain times when your neighbor is prone to being naked. For instance, you may notice them getting their coffee each morning in their birthday suit, or they might like to skinny dip after they get home from work. In those cases, just try to avoid that side of the house until they’re covered up.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Talking to Your Neighbor

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Try to meet on neutral ground. If you’ve had enough of seeing your neighbor in the buff and you feel like you need to address the problem, try to find a place where you can talk to them where you can both feel comfortable. For instance, if it’s possible, you might call them over to the property line if you see them outside, or you might stop them on the sidewalk if they’re walking down the street.^{[4]
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- Try paying attention to when your neighbor arrives home each day, and walk over to talk to them while they’re in the driveway.
- You might have to wait and watch for a few days to catch your neighbor this way, but it can make the conversation a little less awkward than if you went over and knocked on their door.
2
Ask them if they have a few moments to talk. Once you get your neighbor’s attention, show courtesy for their time by asking if they’re free for a moment. Ideally, you’ll be able to let them know what’s on your mind while still maintaining a friendly relationship with them. At the very least, try to open the conversation in a way that lets them know you’re not coming at them aggressively.
- For instance, you might say, “Hey Bill! Do you have a quick second? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
3
Tell them tactfully that you can see them from certain areas of your home. Try not to embarrass your neighbor when you’re letting them know that you can sometimes see them in the nude. However, do be clear that you can see them nude sometimes, and let them know that it bothers you.^{[5]
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- You might say something like, “Listen, I’m sure you didn’t realize, but sometimes you leave your windows open and we can see you walking around your house naked.”
4
Let them know if you're concerned because you have children. If you’re a parent and you’re worried that your children or teens may accidentally see your neighbor in the nude, make a point of mentioning that. Your neighbor may take the situation more seriously than they would if it was only adults who can see them.
- For example, you could say, “I’m concerned that Janna and Chris might see you when they’re outside playing or helping with the yard work. Janna’s only 9, and I just don’t think that would be appropriate.”
5
Offer concrete suggestions for ways that you could solve the problem together. While ultimately it will be up to your neighbor to decide how—or if—they want to handle the problem, it might help if you have a few suggestions of your own. For instance, you might request that your neighbor close their curtains, sunbathe in a different part of their yard, or wait to enjoy their hot tub until after your children have gone to bed.^{[6]
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- Try saying something like, “I know it’s your home and you can do what you like, but I was wondering, is there any way you could just put on a swimsuit or something when you’re in your pool during the daytime? We have a really clear view of you skinny dipping and it makes my wife feel uncomfortable.”
6
Send them a letter if you don't want to talk to them directly. If you and your neighbor already aren’t on the best terms, or if you’re really shy, you might feel uncomfortable talking to them face-to-face. In that case, write down your thoughts in a letter and either deliver it in person or mail it to their address.^{[7]
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- Remember to include suggestions for possible solutions to the problem in your letter.
- If you’d like, you can even write your letter anonymously. If you don’t have many neighbors, the recipient might easily figure out who wrote the letter, but if you live in an apartment complex or condo, they’re not likely to be able to tell it was you.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Taking Further Action

1
Check local laws to see if your neighbor is violating them. Check with your city, county, and state authorities to see if there are any regulations prohibiting a person from being nude in sight of others. If so, you may have a legal standing for asking your neighbor to stop exposing their body where you can see it.
- Keep in mind that in most places, a person is likely to be free to walk around naked in their home or on their property, as long as they're not doing anything lewd or suggestive.^{[8]
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2
Reach out to renters’ or property owners’ associations in your area. Many neighborhoods have an organized group of residents that creates its own regulations for what you can and can’t do in that area. Look online for any such associations that might govern your neighborhood, then ask them if there are any restrictions against nudity that your neighbor might be violating. If so, you may wish to file a complaint against your neighbor, especially if you’ve spoken with them and they disregarded your concerns.^{[9]
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- If your home is governed by one of these associations, you probably signed an agreement when you filed your lease or mortgage.
- If you file a complaint with one of these associations, keep a copy of the paperwork for your records.
3
File a complaint with the police if the behavior is suggestive. While being naked isn’t necessarily lewd on its own, if your neighbor does anything sexual while they’re naked, their behavior may fall under regulations prohibiting sexual misconduct. If that happens, call the police immediately, because the issue is likely to escalate, otherwise.^{[10]
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- For instance, if the neighbor fondles themselves or makes a suggestive gesture, they may be found guilty of indecent exposure.
Did You Know? While indecent expsure typically covers acts in public, it may also apply to a person in their own home. For instance, in Minnesota, it’s a misdemeanor if someone “willfully and lewdly exposes [their] body or the private parts thereof.” If they do this in the presence of someone who’s 16 or younger, or if they are convicted of the same misdemeanor twice, it’s a gross misdemeanor, and it becomes a felony if they’re convicted a third time.

Community Q&A

Question

What if I'm the naked neighbor?

Community Answer

Plant tall bushes/trees, and/or keep your blinds closed. If you're going to go outside naked, do so in the morning or at night. But be aware that it is illegal to be naked in public, including in your own yard, and if you are seen there could be consequences.
Question

Can I answer the door naked?

Community Answer

Not unless you are certain that it's someone you know who is comfortable with your nudity.
Question

I am a single man. If a young teenage girl neighbour is usually nude in front of me, could I be nude with her?

Amy Gremillion

Community Answer

If she's under the age of consent (which may vary depending on where you live), you should take every precaution possible to ensure you're not anywhere near her when your young neighbor is changing clothes. Try to avoid the appearance of anything which might even seem vaguely inappropriate to protect yourself from suspicion.