Is there a fee with civil litigation or is it on contingency?

My neighbor who owns the house next to me and she's my driveway for access to their backyard purposes keeps blocking my driveway. I have parking out back. They park dumpsters in my driveway. The put trash in my driveway. I have several pictures. They have been harassing me for YEARS! They are currently putting a roof on the house and I have called the city several times about them getting a permit and they don't seem to care. However, the city charges me $250 to more my very tiny front lawn and trespassed in my backyard (in my closed, privacy fenced yard) to mow my back yard because they said my grass was too high according to code enforcement. But code enforcement won't make them get a permit. The lady in the city office said "they are working with the property owners on getting a permit". My grass was never tall enough for anyone to mow! These people took pictures out the front of their jeep and gave it to the city and complained because they have their house up for sale.