Neighbors Yard Smells Like Poop and Pee? (Try Doing This)

Bad smells are never fun, especially when coming from your neighbor’s yard. If your neighbor’s yard is smelling like poop and pee, something is seriously wrong over there. So, what do you do when your not-so-hygienic neighbor’s yard smells like poop and pee?

If you’re noticing bad smells emanating from your neighbor’s yard, you should politely bring it up to them. They could be unaware of the problem and would be happy to take care of it once they know. If they refuse to do anything about it, you may need to contact your local authorities or HOA.

Sometimes, unfortunately, talking isn’t going to solve the problem.  If your neighbors aren’t receptive to your issues, you may have to take it a step further. We’ll talk about different ways you can take care of this unfortunate situation, so keep reading!

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What to do About the Smells

No one wants to be concerned that their house smells like the neighbor’s foulness.  So, to start with, we’ll discuss why your neighbor may have a smell issue and how you can inform them they need to clean up!

What Can I Do If My Neighbor’s Yard Smells Like Dog Poop?

If there are bad smells, like dog poop, emanating from your neighbor’s yard, find a good time to go to their home and talk to them.  Be civil, but inform them that the smell is enough to keep you from being able to enjoy your yard. 

If they seem to be listening, ask them to clean up their dog’s waste more quickly. 

If the dog isn’t new, but the odor is, you may even want to let them know their dog may need to see a vet, as foul-smelling waste can be a sign of infection in dogs. 

What Can I Do If My Neighbor’s Yard Smells Like Dog Pee?

If you need to neutralize a yard that smells like dog pee quickly, consider watering the lawn.  While it may sound silly, the quicker you dilute the source of the smell, the less likely it is to stick around. 

Ask your neighbors to water down their lawn to dilute any dog urine that has built up. 

You can also suggest that your neighbors train their dog to do its business in one area of the yard, where they can easily clean it. 

What Can I Do About the Smell of Feces From My Neighbor’s Yard?

If your inconsiderate neighbors aren’t cleaning up after their pets, you may need to spray your yard to prevent smells from migrating.  Just be sure the spray is safe for pets. You can’t take it out on your neighbor’s animals if you’re frustrated with them. 

You can DIY a spray solution using vinegar, citrus peels or essential oils, and water to create a more pleasant scent in your yard. 

Mix them all in a spray bottle and spritz along the length of your yard to prevent a scent barrier against your neighbor’s odor. 

How Do I Get Rid of the Smell of Poop in My Neighbors’ Yard?

Inform your neighbor that the smells in their yard are getting overwhelming.  Ask them to clean up after their animals more quickly.  You may have to inform your local authorities if they don’t listen. 

If you think their animals are being mistreated, you may need to call your local animal control or shelter to report neglect.

In addition, the ASPCA has a helpful website where you can learn the signs of abuse and neglect and find out how to report issues.

Does Urine Count as a Nuisance Smell From the Neighbor’s Yard?

Urine smells can be a nuisance, depending on the area and situation.  In fact, the CDC has gone as far as to study and document how and when odors can become public nuisances.

Hawaii has also drawn up a document explaining how and when smells become a nuisance and what can be done to prevent and stop the odors. 

They also recommend using ammonia to deter cats from urinating in specific areas. 

Does Feces Count as a Nuisance Smell From the Neighbor’s Yard?

Feces can be counted as a nuisance smell when purposely left to rot in yards or sidewalks.  People are responsible for cleaning up after their animals in a timely fashion after they’ve defecated, whether in a yard or in public. 

The CDC has studied fecal, and urine nuisance smells, otherwise known as environmental odors.

For the CDC, a smell becomes a nuisance when it interferes with a right common to the public and/or becomes a danger to public health and safety.

You might also enjoy our post on What to Do if Your Neighbor Has Too Many Dogs

Dogs and Cats

If your neighbor is hosting an unofficial pet rescue, you may notice an overabundance of cat or dog odors emanating from their yard. This section will tell you how to help your neighbors clean up after their pets.

How Do I Call in an Animal Waste Complaint Against My Neighbors?

Most counties or cities have an animal control office.  If your county doesn’t have one, you may need to contact an animal shelter.  Start by contacting the appropriate office and informing them of your complaint. 

Make sure you have all the relevant information for your complaint, including:

• The address of the home you’re complaining about
• The number (or an approximate number) of animals involved
• Descriptions of the animals
• Time of a specific incident, if applicable
• Document the waste, including photos or videos, if you can take such things safely. 

Neighbors Yard Smells Like Dog Poop?

Unfortunately, neighbors sometimes aren’t as on top of cleaning up after their animals as we would like them to be.  If your neighbor isn’t cleaning up after a pet, start by asking them to clean up more efficiently. 

If your neighbor ignores the request, or if you think their animals are being neglected, you may have to contact animal control or a local shelter to conduct a visit to ensure their animals are not being abused. 

Neighbors Garden Smells Like Dog Urine?

Similar to how you may approach a neighbor with the smell of dog feces in their yard, you can start dealing with a urine smell issue by talking with your neighbor.  Suggest they wash the areas where their dogs commonly urinate. 

If they are unwilling or unable to clean up after their animals, suggest they hire a company to come to clean up the yard. 

If they still don’t comply, you may have to escalate by calling animal control, especially if you think the animals are being abused or neglected. 

Neighbors Not Picking up Dog Poop in Their Yard?

Sometimes, our neighbors’ are just tone-deaf to the idea that their yard impacts others.  Start by informing your neighbors that their dog poop-filled yard is keeping you from being able to enjoy your own yard. 

Suggest to your neighbors that they start cleaning up their dog’s messes immediately before the scent bakes into the ground.  You can also suggest they get a scooper to help them clean the mess. 

Cat Urine Smell From Neighbor’s Yard?

If your neighbor feeds or keeps feral or indoor/outdoor cats, you’ve probably noticed the unmistakable odor of cat urine. Request your neighbors keep their cats inside, if possible, or ask them to spray deterrents around the yard to keep their cats from urinating and causing issues. 

You may also wish to spray a cat repellent spray deterrent around your property line to deter the cats from crossing the property and using your lawn as their litter box. 

How Do I Deal With My Neighbor’s Dog Poop?

If your neighbor is letting their dog do their business on your property, start by asking your neighbors to clean up after their dog.  If they won’t comply, you can record when the incident occurred just in case you have to take them to court. 

If you don’t want to involve the police, consider installing a fence to keep their animals out of your yard. 

You can also install cameras and motion-activated lights to help deter animals from entering your property after dark. 

What to do About Stinky Soil

If the issues and smells in your neighbor’s yard are creeping into your backyard, you need to know how to fix it fast! 

This section will discuss the best ways to keep your soil safe and contaminate-free, no matter what’s going on next door. 

How to Stop a Lawn From Smelling Like Urine?

If your lawn smells like animal urine from unwelcome guests, you have options to neutralize the scent. Start by using baking soda and water in a spray bottle and applying it liberally to the affected area. 

You can also use garden lime to help remove some of those harsh smells.  Once you’ve applied the lime to the affected areas, allow it to seep into the grass, then rinse thoroughly with water.

This should neutralize the odor. 

Can Soil Smell of Urine?

Unfortunately, over time, urine can soak into the soil, and it will retain the smell.  If you’re concerned that an animal is urinating over and over in one spot in your yard, consider adding a deterrent to that area to prevent odors from accumulating. 

You may also want to invest in some baking soda. Baking soda works as a neutralizer for odors such as urine and can help prevent and stop odors from permeating your soil. 

Make sure you rinse the affected area well once you’ve applied the baking soda. 

You might also enjoy our post on Who is Responsible for Picking up a Guide Dog’s Poop

How Do You Neutralize Urine in Soil?

The best way to neutralize urine in the soil is to apply baking soda.  Baking soda reacts to the urine and can help break it down quickly and efficiently.  Plus, you don’t have to worry about baking soda hurting your yard in the process. 

If baking soda isn’t your thing, you can also use garden lime to balance out the PH levels in your soil, effectively neutralizing the urine in the process. 

While this option may be more expensive, it’s also very good for your plants. 

How Do You Get Rid of the Ammonia Smell in Soil?

No one wants their garden soil to smell strongly of anything other than dirt.  If your garden is plagued by the ammonia smell of urine or other animal odors, use baking soda to neutralize the odor. 

You may also want to use a deterrent spray to stop animals from using your garden or yard as a bathroom. 

Unfortunately, once an animal finds a safe place to do their business, they’ll keep coming back unless something is deterring them. 

When the Smell is Invading Your Yard

If your neighbor’s foul smells have become an issue in your yard, you definitely want it fixed as soon as possible.  Before we wrap up, we’ll discuss the best fixes for your yard and bad smells.

Why Does My Yard Smell Like Dog Poop?

If your yard is smelling of dog feces, but you don’t have a dog, you are probably very frustrated.  If your neighbor’s animals are to blame, start by asking your neighbor to stop allowing their animal in your yard. 

If talking to them doesn’t work, you may have to install a fence or other animal deterrents to keep the neighbor’s dogs away. 

You can also install security cameras to catch them in the act, especially if you want proof in order to press nuisance charges. 

Why Does My Yard Smell Like Urine?

Sometimes, stray cats use yards as a bathroom even without the home’s owners noticing there’s an issue.  Cats have been known to mark their territory and tend to come around at night once they feel safe. 

Consider getting flood lights to help spook unwanted visitors from your yard. Also, be sure to keep trash and debris out of your yard.

Feral cats are attracted to areas where they think they will find food and shelter, so the more you do to make your yard unattractive to them, the less likely it is cats will hang out there. 

You might also enjoy our post on How to Stop Your Neighbor’s Dog From Peeing in Your Yard

How Do I Get Rid of the Smell of Poop in My Yard?

An easy way to help quicken the riddance of the smell of poop in your yard is to soak your yard with a garden hose thoroughly.  It will help disintegrate the poop and encourage it to wash away. 

Of course, if there are piles of poop still in the yard, clean up what you can before spraying the yard down, so you don’t have a smeary mess.

You can use a scooper or just doggie bags to help you start the process. 

Is There Something I Can Put In My Yard to Keep Dogs From Pooping?

If you’re having trouble with the neighbor’s dogs using your yard as their bathroom, the best option, besides talking to the owners, is fencing in your yard.  After all, if the animals can’t get into your yard, they can’t poop there. 

There are plenty of options for quality fences in your yard.  You can go with a basic, animal-proof fence, a white picket, or even a natural-looking privacy fence. 

No matter what, adding a fence should help deter animals. 

How Do I Keep the Neighbor’s Dog From Peeing in My Yard?

Start by telling your neighbor that their dog is not welcome in your yard. Next, inform your neighbor that you will contact animal control if you see their dog in your yard. Finally, make sure you know your county’s leash law.  

You may consider investing in a fence to keep the dog away.  Otherwise, once you’ve spoken with your neighbor about their dog’s behavior, be sure to document any other instances. 

No matter what, make sure you do not take your frustration out on the dog, as you will end up in trouble, instead of your neighbor, if the dog is harmed. 

Related Questions

Are There Plants That Mask the Smell of Dog Poop?

Believe it or not, lots of fragrant plants can help mask the smell of dog poop.  While dog poop should still be cleaned immediately so as not to attract other animals and insects, you can still use plants to increase the pleasant smells in your yard.

Some common plants for masking odors include:

• Marjoram
• Thyme
• Sage
• Lavender
• Lemon Balm
• Mint
• Catmint

Does Human Urine Smell Ever Go Away?

Like animal urine, human urine can be hard to remove from soil and fabric once it’s dried.  If the urine is outside, try to rinse it as soon as possible to remove it from the soil.  If it’s on fabric, wash as much as possible, then sprinkle with baking soda to help neutralize. 

Whenever possible, try to wash urine-soaked items as quickly as possible.  The sooner you are able to get soap or baking soda onto the affected area, the more likely you will be able to get the scent out. 

Does Dog Urine Smell Ever Go Away? 

While most people think cat urine is the most foul-smelling animal waste product, dog urine is also not pleasant.  However, you can get rid of the smell.  If it’s on something machine washable, wash it as quickly as possible with baking soda plus detergent. 

If whatever is soaked is not machine washable, scrub it as much as you can using a baking soda paste, and rinse thoroughly. 

If you notice your dog is peeing in the same spot, consider taking them to the vet. Sometimes urinating inside is a sign of an issue with your pet. 

Final Thoughts

No one should have to deal with foul-smelling neighbors, but unfortunately, it happens.  We hope this article helped you figure out the best way to approach your neighbor and fix the smell issues. 

After all, everyone deserves to be able to hang out in their yard without nose assaults!