I should mention the other side has trees but i think it would be hard to do so close to a pool

Are they running an air b&b?

Would one or two sail shades block the view somewhat? What about a large cantilevered umbrella?

Did you use the search bar using the terms: "backyard privacy". There have been so many threads about this recently.

Are you sure that the house, that close to the property line is legal? It wouldn't be in most municipalities.

don't know where you live but this is used to grow hops. Golden hops are gorgeous and very fast growers, but deciduous. Not sure what your winter time needs are. But you could plant evergreen vines that thrive in your area:

Grapes

You could also use planters along the fence and plant trees like these. Bamboo is fast growing but too messy for near a pool, I think.

Maybe these can give you some ideas.

Use small trees. I'm not sure where you live, so I can't suggest which type. Flowering trees will put litter in your pool, but this can be handled with a leaf skimmer during bloom time.

It would make me uncomfortable too to have a short term rental business next door that doesn't have any means to screen out predilections of the total strangers churning through every weekend and who have a clear view of adults and children a few feet away, some who are wearing just swimsuits. We've experienced the loss of privacy and concern for safety that STR's have caused residents in our lake house community; fortunately, restrictions are being implemented.

You could plant trees in your bed but having roots so close to the pool might damage it. Depending on your relationship with your neighbor, I'd be inclined to ask whether fast growing, tall trees could be planted on their side of the fence. It is a side yard, trees could help buffer pool noise for their renters. Show them your photos and/or invite them to visit so they can see how it feels to be in a fish bowl. You could also offer to absorb or share the expense, maybe they'd be receptive considering the impact it has on you.

Just wanted to add a note of sympathy - the house next door to us has become a FT Air BnB, in violation of county codes. We knew going in that houses in this area are close together (8ft in our case), but we didn't expect a boarding house to crop up next door. We have installed a hedge of cherry laurels, in part to prevent the "guests" from using our front yard as a turnaround or looking through our mailbox (yes, both real-life examples.) It will take a few more years before we have full privacy, but once they were planted, it definitely improve my peace of mind. You've gotten great visual suggestions here for enhancing your privacy - good luck!

Arbor vitae or a vine on a trellis. definitely would want more privacy (and i live on a tiny parcel surrounded by others!)

Some sort of shade structure as Olychick proposed, perhaps with a vine growing on the vertical supports, would be the best solution, in my opinion. Trees on either your or your neighbor's property would be incredibly messy and you would be dealing with leaves and debris in your pool constantly. Also, tree roots so close to the pool would be problematic. Leaf debris from a vertical vine would be more easily confined to the area between the pool and the fence and could be more easily dealt with.

I don't know what these look like in person, or how they would hold up, or how many it would take, but when I was searching for the structures above, they kept showing up as an option to cover a trellis or arbor. No debris in the pool to deal with :

This place has an amazing selection.

Fake greenery

If you are on good terms with the owner of the house next door, ask to meet at the house to look though the windows to see what visitors can actually see in your backyard. A simple, inexpensive privacy solution would be to add Contact-type window film to the three windows that face your yard. It can be plain frosted or colorful stained-glass window styles.

https://www.houzz.com/products/window-film to see many kinds.

Artscape Spanish Garden Window Film 24" X 36" · More Info

Artscape Canopy Window Film 24"x36" · More Info

Looked again and see that you have not posted back . i hope you do because people have spent a lot if time offering ideas

i urge anyone who questions property lines or suspects a private residence has become an air B & B (what are the initials others are using?) to check zoning regulations on both. if you have average reading skills they are usually understandable.

start documenting and start educating yourself. google is still your best friend to start.

I guess they go enough answers .

Thanks everyone for all these ideas. I saw a few questions about the zoning regulations so I did some research on that and the house is actually supposed to be at least 5ft from the property line. I don’t think we are going to go down the route of fighting them on that as we wouldn’t want to start problems with our neighbors. I love the idea of having trees but as people have said the roots would be an issue. I don’t think we are going to do any shade blocking solution due to the fact that the houses around us already block out the sun and we don’t want to block out anymore sun. I think I’m leaning towards some sort of trellis with vines as many people suggested in the comments. Thank you again everyone. all these suggestions have helped so much!

The expectation of privacy is unrealistic in such an open space. There is also another house with multiple windows overlooking the pool, further back. You can buy full coverage swimsuits for the kids with long sleeves and pants if modesty is an issue. I would put my kids in whatever swimsuit that I would dress them if I went to a public beach or swim spot. OP has clearly stated that sunshine is more important than screening the pool, so I guess we know how big of an issue this really is.

I really like the idea of going into the house to see what they can see and suggest window film. If they protest, you can always bring up that they’re in violation of the distance from the fence rule and this will keep you from minding that.