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Reporting a neighbor’s property can feel powerful until someone decides to examine your own backyard with equal enthusiasm.
One smug homeowner tried getting a quiet woman fined over a shed that had already been properly permitted for years.
Instead of ignoring the failed complaint, her son investigated the neighbor’s expensive new addition and discovered several serious problems.
See what the city uncovered.
Neighbor tried to get my mom fined over our shed. So I got his $40K pool filled in.
I live with my mom. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and never bothers anyone.
A few months ago, our new neighbor decided to report her to the city for having an “illegal shed” in the backyard.
It was total crap! The shed’s been there for years and has full permits.
This woman did a little digging.
An inspector came out, checked everything, and left without saying a word.
But the neighbor? Smug. Proud.
He thought he’d scared us.
So I did a little digging.
Turns out his brand-new pool was way too close to the property line and illegally built over a utility easement.
She reported their neighbor, and they lost.
I reported him with attached photos, and quoted city codes.
Two weeks later, the city ordered him to either move it (impossible) or fill it in.
He lost the whole thing. $40,000 down the drain.
Literally.
Her mom sleeps better now.
Now, he gets to look at our completely legal shed every day…
While standing over a pile of dirt where his pool used to be.
Mom sleeps great now.
What a satisfying ending! Let’s find out what others have to say about this on Reddit.
This person wants to clarify.
Dirt isn’t cheap, says this person.
This user shares a similar story.
Here’s a sensible suggestion from this person.
If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a neighbor who steps in to stop illegal driveway construction for friends down the road.
Finally, here’s a valuable lesson.
The shed passed inspection without issue, while the neighbor’s new pool violated setback rules and sat illegally over a utility easement.
After OP submitted photographs and city codes, officials ordered the $40,000 pool filled in because relocating it was impossible.
He went fishing for a shed violation and somehow reeled in one extremely expensive backyard dirt pit.