# Legality of mowing someone else's yard

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-mowing-someone-elses-yard/985685>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 17, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-mowing-someone-elses-yard/985685 "2023-06-17T17:52:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-mowing-someone-elses-yard/985685/41 "2023-06-22T12:53:54Z")

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> [@ASL\_v2.0](#):
>
> as I understand it _criminal_ trespass typically requires some kind of notice or a request to exit the property.

I wonder if for criminal trespass there is a distinction between cutting across someone’s front lawn and something more nefarious like opening a gate and going into their backyard. Or if it is one of those crimes that is added on like if someone spray paints on your garage it is vandalism **and** they tack on criminal trespass.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-mowing-someone-elses-yard/985685/42 "2023-06-22T12:58:55Z")

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Opening a gate might be breaking and entering?

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**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2023, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-mowing-someone-elses-yard/985685/43 "2023-07-17T11:34:05Z")

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Only if the gate was locked.

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-mowing-someone-elses-yard/985685/44 "2023-07-18T19:47:40Z")

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Breaking and entering in most states applies to _structures_ like a home, business or garage, whether or not the door, window or other access point was locked.

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