You can check with the City’s or County’s Code Enforcement division. They might be willing to talk to you about the problem or issue (most of which is public records anyways). From there, they can also tell you what the remedies are, or what things can be done to fix the underlying problem.
If the problem is because of a violation of setback, the code enforcement officer can probably tell you how far the garage should be from the property line. The usual amount for residential properties is 8 feet, but it varies depending on the zoning. Look at your city’s/county’s website from zoning and setback requirements and compare with the property in question.
There is also the possibility that there is no setback violation so in order to prove your case, you will probably need a land survey done by a licensed land surveyor in order to satisfy them.
If there is a setback problem, and you want to get a variance, the process can be long, cumbersome, and has no guarantee of being resolved in your favor. There is no arbitration process with the city/county so trying to get them to give you a variance will probably require a full application, survey, permission from the neighbors, and a public hearing (maybe – I’m not totally familiar with the process). If the problem is serious enough, you could try to negotiate with your neighbor and have a lot line adjustment survey done (where you purchase part of your neighbor’s property to satisfy the setback problem). That is probably an easier and cheaper way to deal with the problem instead of trying to get a variance. In any case, you will probably need to consult with a land use planner in order to get familiar with the variance process.
