Vero Beach, FL asked in Real Estate Law for Florida

Q: Neighbors are using my private road as an address without my permission-How can I force them to change their address?

About 6 years ago, my predecessor gave a new non-landlocked household permission to connect to my private road, for ingress/egress & as an address (without granting an easement). A few weeks ago, I revoked my predecessor’s permission, via an attorney letter. During the process, I requested they change their address, to reflect their new connection to a public road & they agreed. However, they ultimately did not change their address & they are still using my private road for addressing purposes (without my permission). Their guests/contractors, have trespassed on our property on 3 instances & have damaged one of the hedge plants we installed between our properties. Could you please inform me how I can legally force my neighbors to change their address & the approximate cost? Please note my property is located in Indian River County Florida. Your feedback will be most helpful & greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your help & have a great day.

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3 Lawyer Answers
Richard Paul Zaretsky
Richard Paul Zaretsky
Answered
  • West Palm Beach, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: The US postal service assigns addresses. Addresses are not assigned privately. Contact the US postal service to resolve your issue. That would be the local Post Office.

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
Answered
  • Freeeport, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: What they report to the Postal Service and others as their address is not the problem; the problem is the fact that the driveway is used as access. You hired an attorney to send them a letter; ask that attorney how much the attorney would charge you to seek an injunction and other relief, such as a gate.

The fact that they are landlocked also raises other questions: how did they become landlocked landowners? They might have the right to an easement by necessity.

1 user found this answer helpful

Jane Kim
Jane Kim pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Naples, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: Sounds like you already have a lawyer familiar with your situation and who provided at least some advice on the matter. You should probably get back to him/her to clear up your residual issues.

On the other hand, it sounds like you need to attend to the remaining items in a practical way. As to mail items, write "return to sender" on the envelopes and have them returned. As to the road access, can you put up a sign and gate of some sort blocking anyone's access but your own?

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