Does look a good deal like 'Rose Glow' barberry. Thorny? Small yellow flowers?

Idk because I snapped this pic while sitting at a stop sign. But when I say this is everywhere I mean almost every other house has at least one. They're stunning, but when I thought it was barberry I went to order it and there were so many places who outright refused to ship to me because I was in MA and I guess it's really invasive and MA is really strict about this bush I guess? So I figured if they were that strict, I can't see how so many people are actively growing it in the open for all to see?

It may have recently become banned. After many people have already had it planted for some years.

Banned? Why is it banned?

Sometimes invasive plants are banned in certain locations.

Weird idea that a shrub should be defined as invasive. Seems bizarre

Larry this will explain better than I could try to lol http://www.ecolandscaping.org/11/invasive-plants/japanese-barberry-exotic-invasive-plant-fact-sheet/

Larry, not weird at all. It happens when a plant is causing enough issues that it is costing both the environment and the economy. I battle rampant invasives, and would love to not have to spend the time constantly clearing seedlings that include buckthorn, bittersweet, honeysuckle, and barberry, among others.

Nessdizzle, it has been banned only in the last 5-10 years, and they seem really long-lived IME, so I would assume that they have all been there for longer than the ban has been in existence. The shrubs are J. barberry and I think that the suggestion of it being rose glow is a good one.

Check out some of the coppery to red-foliaged ninebarks such as Coppertina or Centerglow or Diablo, all large in size, or some smaller ones such as Tiny Wine. Here's an article that rates several of the older kinds of ninebark for how mildew prone they were in tests. I haven't had any issues with either Coppertina or Tiny Wine in my garden.

Some of the smaller weeping red-foliaged Japanese maples may work for you, or there are several deep red-foliaged Weigelas of various sizes. You could also look at deep red-foliaged Sambucus/elderberries.

Thanks Babs, knowing how long they've been banned makes sense as to why I still see them everywhere..I am dealing with bittersweet as we speak actually...it's pretty much everywhere in this city! It'd be harder to find a house that doesn't have it. As far as your suggestions, I have 2 ninebarks I'll post pics because I'm not 100% on which varieties ..I also have 'Wine and Roses' Weigela, a Japanese maple(not weeping though), and 2 purple smoke bushes...also 3 tri colored beech trees lol...I just love that pink and purple combo, it's like I HAVE to have every one lol...but I obv won't if invasive...here are my 2 ninebarks..I bought these on clearance from Lowes in Oct 2014 1 qt pots, basically almost dead..but I was broke and I needed something for the front of my house, and they were on clearance for $3 each so looked like I was taking a chance on them lol...they have only one full season in them and they look amazing!!!

I was thinking exactly what Laceyvail said. Moving will be much easier now than later, though if you want to wait until fall, that will involve less watering. They do grow fast however, so it will probably be double that size by fall.

Is it possible to prune to keep a bit smaller? I am ok with it getting bigger than this height wise, but 12' width would be max the area could handle...I read the first pic ninebark summer wine was to get 6' tall and wide..that I'm good with although I'll move the day lilies to a diff part of bed...the other one Diablo has a lot more room than it seems..it's about 3-4' from my window and like 5' from the other bushes

I want them to block the windows a bit. because privacy is a big concern where we are located...we are on a corner lot on a dead end street and our house is elevated a bit so it's kind of a main focus point..and there is a lot of traffic whether foot or car so I'm tired of people looking in my windows when the blind are up. But having such big windows allows everyone and anyone a perfect view of whatever we are doing like we're a drive in theater screen! So I needed something to grow tall enough to block us a bit from everyone seeing everything I have in my house, or who is home, or just my kids when they want to hang out in living room to watch a movie w just like a tee shirt and underpants because they're just lounging...I always have to put blinds down..and I hate having to live like that. Hence the bigger size being what I desired

IMO ninebark looks better unpruned since it has a lovely arching form, rather like forsythia. Just make the bed a bit wider out into the grass and move the plant outwards. It will still do the same amount of blocking, but won't rub against the building and will allow you to get between it and the house for weeding, maintenance, etc.

Ok the base of it is about 4'5 feet away from foundation. You think go more than that?