Is there anything I can do other than pitching a tent and erecting walls and a roof (within local zoning regulations) to keep the home next door from flying a drone and peering down into my yard?
Our residence is in the United States, and it is close enough to an international airport that I cannot output anything into the skies above or around it.
Suggestions?
The best approach is to become familiar with local and federal drone regulations. Often, flying a drone over private property without permission can be considered trespassing or harassment.
Safeguard your possessions, is my suggestion. Our neighbors in Los Angeles experienced this, and a week or so later, their street (which included several houses) was broken into.
Burglars were inspecting residences and determining the most direct route to enter them.
Honestly, unless there is already a bad relationship there, your best bet is to have a cordial conversation with your neighbor. When neighbors express concern, most sensible people will happily refrain from creating an uncomfortable environment for their neighbors. Just keep in mind to exercise reason yourself. It may be all you really need to put your worry at rest if they reassure you that they aren’t peering down into your yard and you have no reason to believe they would be particularly interested in doing that anyhow. Perhaps request that they notify you in advance if they intend to fly close to your property boundary.
Any flight limits that are preprogrammed into the drone are likely already there, depending on its size and manufacturing date.
Unless you have a bad relationship with your neighbor, I doubt they are actively attempting to spy on you. They’re probably simply experimenting with their new gizmo. Try speaking with them, especially if it’s noisy.
However, if it is malevolent, check to see if there are any local regulations prohibiting drones from flying within a certain radius of the airport. They might be breaking the rules.