A neighbor's fence has stood two feet over an adjacent property line in California for six years. The fence location has been open and visible since it was built, and neither party disputed it until now. The adjoining owner demands the fence be moved. Which of the following BEST describes the legal classification of the fence under California property law?

Correct Answer

B) An encroachment, because the fence is a physical structure that extends beyond the owner's property boundary onto adjacent land

Under California property law, an encroachment is defined as a physical structure — such as a fence, wall, or building — that crosses a property boundary and intrudes onto adjacent land. Regardless of how long the fence has stood, the structure itself is classified as an encroachment. The adjoining owner may bring an action for ejectment or seek injunctive relief to compel its removal. Classification as an encroachment is a threshold legal determination about the nature of the intrusion; it is distinct from any separate legal claim the encroaching neighbor might later assert.