greyeyes819 wrote: 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.
All that may be true in your jurisdiction but it isn't so everywhere.
Your going to lose this battle, just move it and be done with it. If you don't believe me, just spend $100 and ask a local attorney, then you can move it.
Jerrybo66 wrote: 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.
The neighbor might but I would be surprised if the City did. Usually, once a complaint has been made, some kind of resolution has to be achieved.
I would like to find who complained because I would either watch them like a hawk or put something there that is legal that they would enjoy looking at even less. Maybe that is just me...
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Come on why is the inspector being dumped on, he is just doing his job. As far as the backyard I always though a house had a front yard, a back yard, and 2 side yards. As far as the city code as to where you can park I haven't read it so I cannot even guess. I hope you prevail in this. I would go before the board and get a clear definition of the law. Plus I would want to know my accuser.
Some neighbors need to be edjucated on how to get along. When we were in business the guys would come to the house to pick up the work van. A neghibor lady complained about the truck being parked on the street in front of our house. I had a visit from the police who said I could legally park "anywhere" on the street. Good cop. I parked the van in front of her house for about a week. No more problems... Maybe parking the trailer and/or other vehicles in front of the complaining neighbor will get the idea across.. IMO ..
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thiswebs4u wrote: You have the legal right to know your accuser, ask them for their name. Maybe you can talk to them.
That's only in court. I had a neighbor complain about an unsitely shed I had. I had just bought a bigger shed to replace that shed and, when the inspector showed up, he went after the new shed because of its size and location. I had to cut two feet off the length and relocate it. The city refused to tell me who made the complaint but I was reasonably certain it was the one whose yard was adjacent to the ugly shed (his body language was the giveaway; I made it a point to talk to all of the neighbors to try to figure out who it was). The old shed, despite being ugly as a mud fence, was legal so I just left it there. That was over twentyfive years ago and I moved around twenty years ago; the ugly shed is still there. I took the new shed with me when I moved. The new owner is a junker who has let the place go. Karma wins.
I was not trying to go against a city ordinance or get a city employee in trouble, but to get a fair ruling for the original poster. We live in a small community of 3500 people. I sit on our Zoning Committee and our committee's job is to interpret the zoning code and make recommendations to the City Council, which has the job of instructing the law enforcement as to how an ordinance is enforced and/or get a proper rulling from the City's attorney or change the ordinance.
I stay involved with this because our property line is within a foot of our neighbor's house. Though we've lived here since 1975 and have no plan to turn over some of our property to the neighbor, it is my opinion that this was allowed back in 1953 because of a "good old boy network" between city officials and a local builder with strong political ties. There were no zoning laws in this commnuity at that time.
Land Owner's have rights and our committee is in place to make sure all citizens are treated fairly and our little government does not get to powerful behind closed doors. I believe the statement is "Those that do not get involved in politics are destined to be governed by fools".
These statements come from someone survivng in the State of Illinois - "the land of graft and corruption". Where some of the nations best prisons are built, because all of our Governors want a nice place to live when retired. ;-)
greyeyes819 wrote: 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.
I have served on our Planning Board for over 11 years now, and our Town (of Webb, NY) works very much as indicated above.
Your Zoning Board of Appeals, will interperate the "wording" and should direct you accordingly.
You can request a variance and leave the trailer as it sits, provided it is approved by the Zoning Board!
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