The code officer, SHOULD be able to provide to you you where the specific regulations are stated within their code book & be able to explain them to a resident. He's paid to know these issues. You pay taxes to this municipality, he works to protect your rights as well as others. If he is unable to interpret them, then the municipality has a solicitor for which can also do this. I work for a local municipality and i believe the first way to resolve this is by sending a letter to the code officer and copy the residing Board authority. Request the specific statue/regulation be provided in writing with any definitions necessary to interpret it as well, and most importantly, be polite & respectful. It is much easier to address an issue with a resident if they understand we are just enforcing the rules and regulations before us, we are not necessarily the one's who put them in place. Remember there can be different zoning classifications of residency & therefore that might be why you are finding two locations within the code that "appear" to be conflicting but are not really. IF you find you are in violation of the code, ask if you can request a special exception or variance at a hearing. There's usually a fee for this but if granted you might be able leave it where it is. The initial inquiry should cost you nothing but some leg work.
Good luck.
EDIT: I use code officer in place of inspector as that's how we refer to our enforcement officer at work.
Tami, Daniel
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Just rolling over and doing what some have suggested smacks of much that is wrong in our country today. Too many laws enforced by too many martinets who think they own you (not talking about the police here). I would try to find out, nicely, who complained and ask them what their issue is. Perhaps you can resolve it amicably.
I would push the envelope a bit with the city about their vague rules, even if it's a losing proposition. Of course, that's me and I'm a bit stubborn and think property rights are under attack. I agree with one poster that property rights are not absolute, but there's a difference between using your property to store your RV and say, running a meth lab.
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
We had a nightmare vacation a few years back where we had travelled to a lakeside town about 1500 miles from home in order to rent a lakeside cottage. We pulled into our parking spot with our vehicle and camper which we had used on the 1500 mile journey.
The owner of the rental started freaking out because the town has an ordinance of no trailers parked in yards. We had already given them $1200 for the cabin and would lose that unless we could get rid of our trailer for the week. it was a total nightmare.. and of course the people renting the cabin did not say anything in advance. Sometimes things regulations are really taken too far...
phillyg wrote: Just rolling over and doing what some have suggested smacks of much that is wrong in our country today. Too many laws enforced by too many martinets who think they own you (not talking about the police here). I would try to find out, nicely, who complained and ask them what their issue is. Perhaps you can resolve it amicably.
I would push the envelope a bit with the city about their vague rules, even if it's a losing proposition. Of course, that's me and I'm a bit stubborn and think property rights are under attack. I agree with one poster that property rights are not absolute, but there's a difference between using your property to store your RV and say, running a meth lab.
I had this type of situation happen to me, it was over the placement of a shed, 10'x 12', anyway inspector said it needed to be closer to my house and away fron the fence property line, it was at the time 3 ft away, city wanted it 3 ft from my house, well, I to like you, started asking questions, look around your neighbor hood, compare, as for my situation I went to the top city engineer and sat down and talked with him about the ordinance, he agreed to come out and take a look, when he did he just shook his head and said, these rookie engineers take every law literally, he signed a form to put in my house file and said this would not be a problem in the future. good luck and I hope you get this issue resolved. Rusty
Codes are typically written sequentially and the new code does not necessarily delete the old one. The typical answer you will get on the conflict is "the more stringent applies".
The city I live in passed a law forbidding utility trailers longer than 14' to be parked next to the residence. Then a local reporter discovered that a City Councilman had a utility trailer that was 16' long parked next to his house. Instead of making him adhere to the ordinance they changed it so he could keep parking his trailer where it always was. One of many reasons why I no longer trust my government.
I would just ignore him and hope he goes away. If some COF neighbor complained and sees nothing happening they'll probably give up. IMO.
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