New Neighbors Called Code Enforcement on His Backyard Workshop—So He Uncovered Their Unpermitted Addition and HOA Violations
Pexels/Reddit
Moving into a new neighborhood usually comes with a getting-to-know-you period, not a surprise visit from a city inspector.
One longtime homeowner, settled into his house for over 15 years, found himself blindsided when a sanitation worker showed up unannounced, explaining that new neighbors who’d just moved in less than a month earlier had filed a 311 complaint about overgrown grass and plants in his backyard.
The claim didn’t add up, since his wife’s husband mows regularly and their dog ensures the yard stays maintained, and sure enough, the inspector confirmed there were no violations at all.
What stung most wasn’t the false complaint itself, it was realizing his new neighbors had gone straight to the city without ever exchanging a single word with him first.
Keep reading to find out what Reddit had to say.
Need help/advice
I’ve lived in my home over 15 years.
Less than a month ago, new neighbors moved into the house next door.
It didn’t take long for some drama to take hold.
Today a city sanitation worker came to my house, said it was due to a 311 call, that my neighbors called and complained about overgrown grass and overgrown plants in my backyard.
I’ve never had this issue before, mind you. My grass is rarely overgrown, my husband cuts it every two weeks, and we have a dog, so we definitely keep it clean and fresh for him.
Even the worker sided with the homeowner, which left only one reasonable conclusion.
The worker looked around and said there was no violations and my property was fine, but due to the 311 report, he had to come check it out.
I’m certain it was my new neighbors, as he said the report mentioned my backyard, and only my next-door neighbors can see it.
The homeowner couldn’t believe they would do something like this.
I’m appalled that they called 311, and especially with never even speaking to me. Has this happened to anyone before?
Now he begins to wonder what to do next.
I don’t know if I should directly talk to them and ask why they called 311, or what to do. I definitely don’t want to send a message that I’m a pushover and they can call the city on me over nothing.
They are new neighbors, and I assume they’ll be living here a long time, but I’m conflicted. Should I send the city to their home too with the first minor inconvenience I notice?
Kinda sounds like the neighbor could have just used their words.
What did Reddit have to say?
Sometimes the best solution is the most obvious one.
This user doesn’t think it’s a problem… yet anyway.
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If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a neighbor who wants their shed gone, and won’t listen to any arguments.
This user also shares their experience with a false complaint.
Calls to the police don’t always end the way you’d expect.
Filing a formal complaint before even introducing yourself isn’t a misunderstanding, it’s a choice, and it says a lot about how these neighbors plan to handle disagreements going forward.
A simple conversation, or even a friendly note, would’ve cleared up whatever confusion they thought they had, yet they skipped straight to involving the city instead.
It’s possible for the homeowner to keep his moral high ground intact without setting the tone for years of petty neighbor warfare.
Some first impressions are hard to walk back, and this one already left a mark.
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