In property law, a spite fence is an overly tall fence or a row of trees, bushes, or hedges, constructed or planted between adjacent lots by a property owner, who is annoyed with or wishes to annoy a neighbor, or who wishes to completely obstruct the view between lots. Several U.S. states and local governments have regulations to prohibit spite fences, or related regulations such as those establishing a maximum allowed height for fences. In the United Kingdom, the terms spite wall or blinder wall are more commonly used.
A spite wall in Lancashire, England, built in 1880 by the owner of the land on the left, in reaction to the unwanted construction of the house on the right
Portion of the April 1878 panoramic photograph of San Francisco by Eadweard Muybridge showing the spite fence constructed by Charles Crocker
A spite house is a building constructed or substantially modified to irritate neighbors or any party with land stakes. Because long-term occupation is not the primary purpose of these houses, they frequently sport strange and impractical structures.
The Skinny House in Boston, Massachusetts, was reputedly built by a man who inherited only a small patch of land, to spite his neighbor by blocking his view.
The Old Spite House of Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 1912.
The McCobb Spite House at Deadman's Point in July 1960.
The Tyler Spite House in Frederick, Maryland. It is located at the southern terminus of Record Street.
