Question: If my neighbors have built something illegally, should I report

[LeftyMom]

it and if so, who to?

Normally I really wouldn't care, but sometime in the past year they built this ginormous stucco lump (damned if I know what it's for, it's just a big rectangle separate from the rest of thier house) that sticks up well over the fence line only a foot from my back fence. It's an unaviodable eyesore, both because of it's size and because of the obviously amateur construction with chicken wire showing through the stucco in places and the lack of paint. I'm sure it's illegal because there's no way they'd have got approval to put a room-sized structure that's ten feet or so tall only a foot from thier property line, nor to build something to incredibly unattractive. My Dad wants to sell this house soon and it would be much easier with the stucco monolith gone but he has a discomfort with authority figures that makes my own look mild, so he'd never do anything about it. Should I call code enforcement and at least have them come look at this thing, or should I let it go?

[SacredCow]

1. Touchy subject...

I've never really cared for the concept of homeowners associations telling me what I can and can't do on my own property. This thing sounds pretty odd and butt-ugly, but I doubt it would really affect the value or marketability of your house. I sold my last house, where the neighbors had multiple rubbermaid storage sheds against my fence (and 2 big, smelly dogs).

[Robb]

2. Yep. Narc, and now.

Likely to the municipalty's or county's building department.

We have rules for a reason... it might be a terribly-made outdoor oven, or something else likely to burn the house down.

[LeftyMom]

4. I'm a bit worried it's a lab

both because they built it as far as possible from thier house, because it's got no windows but several vents and because it just looks like tweaker work- all the angles on the thing are obviously a degree or two off and it's obvious even at a casual glance.

[Robb]

6. Other things to fret about

...if you need more reason to call. ;)

Setbacks are all about fire. Fire jumps house-to-house when they're too close. Plus access for firefighters when something goes wrong.

[DawgHouse]

9. Yikes! In that case, I would report it.

Normally I'm all about choosing your battles.

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. If it's been wired and/or is used for living in, then yes, report it

The non-code wiring and/or someone living in it, using it for a separate space living or use space, could pose a neighborhood safety problem.

If it's just a poorly built storage unit, reporting may cause them to have to tear it down if it's been built as a permanent structure.

Are you city or county? If city, report to the city inspectors. If county, report to the county building commission.

There may be zoning laws, and there are always structural/architectural codes both city and county.

Chances are, from your description, that these people did not get a building permit, which would also require a city/county inspector to approve the unit upon completion. Building something like that is very different from adding a prefab storage unit to property.

[flvegan]

5. Yes, you should.

And yes, Code Enforcement. It could cost your dad to have this eyesore so close. Setback lines exist for a reason.

If he didn't pull permits, he's going to have to take it down anyway.

[woo me with science]

7. I was going to say

if it was a treehouse and you reported it, I hate you. However, if you think it might be a meth lab or something equally dangerous, definitely report it.

[Schema Thing]

8. Could it be a safety room?

[LeftyMom]

10. I don't think so

It's detatched from the house, entirely above ground and very shoddily built. I can't imagine any situation where running out to that thing would be safer than reminaing in a sturdy little house.

[pitohui]

11. yes go ahead and call

he's selling the house, he doesn't have to put up w. an eyesore any more to be on good terms with doofii neighbors

oh you think it's a drug house, at first i thought you thought it was shed, crap, you should call the cops before the hour is out, i lived in a place that was burned to the ground by crackheads, and several other houses around me also burned before i got out of that area, do not tolerate this nonsense in your dad's neighborhood

somebody could be killed or have so much of their skin burned out that they would wish they had been

[arwalden]

12. Wow... White Trash Neighbors... That Really Sucks.

Of course they'd know that YOU reported them... has the COPS film crew ever been to their house for domestic violence issues?

[bleedingheart]

13. when you move into a neighborhood you must accept the rules

that apply.

If they built an eyesore and it is not up to code....it must come down.

If someone wants to do what ever they damn well please...they should move to the boonies and set up shop, but if they move into a neighborhood and flaunt the very rules and regs that made it attractive in the first place...then they are jerks.

The problem with not reporting it is...that if left alone too long...it may be grandfathered in eventually and become a problem. Where I live, structures must be at least 10 ft off the property line...if not more depending upon the type of lot.

If it is a tweaker lab...my only worry would be having some poor inspector get shot.....however if it is...it is dangerous to your neighbor and to you.

[Jara sang]

14. Are you in a rural area?

because there might be different codes. But you are probably correct, any structure that close to the property line is probably illegal if uncoded. In Hawaii there is all sorts of creative architecture, people are living in houses constructed of wood pallets, tents, prefab garden sheds, you name it, all uncoded.

[LeftyMom]

16. We're in the unincorporated part of the county, but a dense suburban

neighborhood. No HOA but code enforcement is pretty uptight. I think the only way they've got away with this thing until now is that it isn't visible from the road.

[Haole Girl]

15. Hmm..that's a sticky situation

I guess, without starting neighbor wars, and since you're moving anyway, I'd try to plant some vegetation to screen it from perspective buyers first. Never a good idea to start wars with neighbors...or anybody, for that matter.

[pitohui]

18. that's totally wrong, you know

she thinks it's a drug lab, it's close to the property they plan to sell, how will she feel when she reads in the paper that her old house has burned down and the people they sold to have been disfigured in the fire?

it must be reported to the authorities, anonymously if need be but action must be taken

[caty]

17. You could report it anonymously.

Does it have a rat wall? This building could turn into a breeding area.

[gizmo1979]

19. No snitchen!

Nobody likes a tattle tale.

[radwriter0555]

20. Go ahead and call residential code enforcement. For one thing new building

is usually not permitted within 4 feet of a property line. That doesn't even address the shoddy construction, wiring, etc., that could pose a physical danger, but the fact that it's an eyesore doesn't help your home value at all.

Building codes really *do* serve a purpose.

[Floogeldy]

21. It is your dad's house. Let him decide.