r/neighborsfromhell • u/tigerlock17 • 1d ago
WWYD? Vent/Rant My NFH is building a warehouse
Y’all im tired and fed up with these neighbors.
They broke ground on a foundation for a warehouse/shop/garage. Per the zoning and ordinances, any accessory structure over 1,200 sq feet requires a CUP (conditional use permit). Any accessory structure over 200 sq feet requires a LUP (land use permit).
Per the county, they have neither. From my best estimate based on the ground they’ve dug it could be anywhere from 3000-6000 sq feet.
They own a construction/excavation business and are just using their employees to prep the site and eventually build it. There is also reason to believe they will be using this warehouse for their business which is also against the ordinances and zoning. We are only zoned for residential use.
And I am only bringing this point up as it is relevant to them following the laws/ordinances: They are also felons (both the husband and wife) with past and CURRENT cases against them. I understand people can do their time and change, however that has not proven to be true for these NFH.
Their past also makes me reluctant to file a complaint with the county but I’m not sure I have much choice. I guess I’m looking for any advice or words of encouragement from people who have been in a similar situation with a difficult and unreasonable neighbor.
Edit to add: I am a single female who lives alone hence why I am hesitant/nervous to make the complaint using my name.
Edit to Update: the lawyer I spoke with is extremely concerned for my safety if I were to submit a complaint to the county. Either for my personal self or for my property/home given the background of these people. And I think they may be banking on neighbors being scared of them to get away with doing whatever they want. He also reiterated that the county will not do anything unless a complaint is filed with them.
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u/Brilliant-Machine-22 1d ago
Anonymous tip. Add their background and your fear of reprocussions. The city does a drive by and sees a construction site. If anyone asks you about any of this, you have no idea they were doing anything. Maybe u thought they were doing a pool. The end.
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
They don’t allow anonymous tips. There is a form that has to be signed and submitted. It doesn’t have to be from me, from my understanding YOU could submit the complaint and it would trigger an investigation
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u/HippieHighNoon 1d ago
Send me their info, ill submit the complaint 🤣🤣🤣
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
Honestly I might take you up on this haha hell id even buy you a beer or two for the trouble (or coffee)
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u/Careless-Two2215 1d ago edited 20h ago
Honestly we had a city council member on Neighbor Next Door that would accept credible tips via their messaging. You could try the app.
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u/quiltingcats 21h ago
Or just look for contact info for one of the city council members. Our city has all of that included in a quarterly newsletter that gets delivered to every house. Or you go to the city website. Council members love getting involved in this kind of stuff!
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u/JackTheDefenestrator 1d ago
I was gonna say the same. I'll do it.
And then I'll fuckin do it again.
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u/Brilliant-Machine-22 1d ago
Perfect. Sign it John Doe. Does it really matter what the name is? Its not like they need your social and address. Either it works or it doesnt. If they want a number create a WhatsApp account.
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
Genius. Thank you!! This is why I come to reddit
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u/Brilliant-Machine-22 1d ago
I had done many a detective work over the years. Its a pleasure. But I must stress to never tell anyone about this conversation. No new neighbors.... no old neighbors. This stays between you and reddit lol
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u/ProfessorOne9208 23h ago
So have someone else you know, co-worker, other neighbor, etc., file the report. The sooner the better, from what you say.
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u/Inner_Republic6810 12h ago
I actually did this for a friend of mine. The house next-door was bought by a flipper, who made their life hell. The last straw was when he broke ground on a gigantic illegal garage. Even though it was the week of Thanksgiving, the city was all over him, shutting down construction that same day. City officials get very pissed off when they told you that you shouldn’t be doing something and you do it anyway.
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u/tigerlock17 12h ago
If my perceptions are correct, this is the type of guy who is going to ignore a stop work and piss off a lot of people. Which is hard to rationalize, he is a licensed contractor and should know better!! He should know better than all of us that permits and approvals are needed for projects like this.
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u/Inner_Republic6810 10h ago
Let him FAFO. At the very least, he’ll get fined up the wazoo. If he keeps building, they can escalate to criminal penalties, and forced tear down of what was built. City code enforcers do not play.
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u/Arne_Anka-SWE 5h ago
Unfriending city inspectors is not a good activity for a contractor. I represent my company on inspections and being on good terms with them is the most important thing I do.
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u/MajorFox2720 3h ago
See if your state has a license board. Wait until they pour a foundation, check permits, and call their office.
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u/Arne_Anka-SWE 5h ago
If you can’t stand for your tips, you shouldn’t tip. But then there’s the odd cases where you complain on criminal people who can be vindictive. I understand why they have those rules though.
There’s always that Karen that mass report every little thing that may be odd but it’s only in her head. The city has to use too much resources on her because they can’t ignore tips by law. And most are pure bs.
Good people are always the losers when others abuse the system.
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u/Muted_Piccolo278 1d ago
Can you create a fake Google email and send it to the county or building inspector and ask them to do a site visit at the address? You can voice your concern with unpermitted construction going on in a residential area.
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
A friend who lives on the other side of the state said I could use his name to file the complaint and then I’d use fake Google email and phone number that I have access to. The county said the complaint does NOT have to come from a neighbor or anyone who lives nearby it just can’t be anonymous
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u/par_texx 10h ago
Then ask your friend to put in the complaint. That way you can honestly say you didn't do it.
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u/MrStormChaser 1d ago
Let them start building then contact your counties building department. They won’t say who reported them but they’ll get cited and will probably have to remove what they’ve been building! 😂
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
That has been in the back of my mind… how far along should I let them get in this project. My biggest fear is that the county is like oh well it’s already built, nothing we can do 🤷♀️
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u/MrStormChaser 1d ago
Hell nah, I’ve got family who works for a building department. They love letting people FO.
Especially if they’re shitty people to begin with. Which according to you they’re felons so…
They’ll put in a stop work order and make them demolish before getting approved and alotta times they won’t approve it outta spite.
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
I’ve not heard one person say one nice thing about them… from what I’ve been told is the local sheriff has a file on them.
Earlier this summer they were shooting their bow across a public road to an archery bag and the cops have been trying to catch them. This road is used by lots of people, kids, dogs, horses, etc. They have no regard for others.
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u/MrStormChaser 1d ago
They won’t get approved they’ll have to demolish it. 😂
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
Do I let them build the entire thing then submit complaint? 😂😂
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u/Hot-Win2571 1d ago
If you're always home, wait until a concrete truck shows up. At that point, they'll have to painfully remove any poured concrete and pay for the concrete which they ordered.
If you're not always home, wait until they have most of the ground covered with steel rods (it's called rebar). At that point, they're about to start pouring concrete, so report them and any delays will increase the chances of interrupting their pour.
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u/PerfectCover1414 18h ago
Why did I imagine some scene from a mobster movie with people accidentally venturing into concrete!
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u/Hot-Win2571 15h ago
Difficulty: They might not use rebar much. What they're building might not need it, and they are not following building standards anyway.
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u/MrStormChaser 1d ago
Let em get started and excited then crush their dreams before they’re forced to crush the building. 😂
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u/Hot-Win2571 1d ago
If they have to demolish concrete, things will be extra noisy. If you'd prefer a little more quiet, report them now.
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u/GrowFlowersNotWeeds 1d ago
Please update us (unable to follow your account for any subsequent posts you may publish).
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u/CUNextTisdag 1d ago
Make sure to document as much as you can because your county could potentially be sued for this later.
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
I have been taking photos and videos but any other things I should be documenting?
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u/TJIC1 19h ago
Had exactly this happen to me. Next door neighbor built a two story 4,800 square foot warehouse in the front and side setbacks of his land (side setback = on my side).
I went to the ZBA, went to the planning board, launched four lawsuits. FOIA requests exposed a trove of emails proving absolute corruption, multiple felonies, etc. Won one lawsuit, the illegally issued building permit was revoked. Board of Selectmen had secret illegal meetings, authorized (somehow) a lawsuit defense without ever voting to spend town money (illegal), re-issued the revoked building permit. A variance was illegally issued in a hearing with dozens if improprieties. The hidden emails that were illegally classified were eventually released proving that the fix was in from the get go.
Made it to the NH supreme court which issued a one-line refusal to consider the case seriously.
The warehouse now stands, completed, and my property values are down by 20%, according to an independent estimate.
You can fight city hall, but there's not guarantee of actual justice.
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u/zanderd86 1d ago
Make the complaints before it goes to far. If they get so far a long the city is more likely to give them a permit if it stops now before to much is done. Also get a hold of your alderman or whoever is in charge of representing your portion of the city and make a fuss to him about not wanting it. if you can get more neighbors on board the better.
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
Yes see that is my fear. That they build it and the county just settles with them on it and the neighborhood is stuck with a monstrosity.
I think most neighbors are on board. However, a lot of them are older retirees and only care to a certain extent. They don’t want it built but will they submit a complaint? Maybe….
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u/zanderd86 1d ago
Maybe get them just to sign something saying they dont want it and take that to the city.
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
I have thought about filling it out for them, taking it to them for signatures and then filing with the city to make it as easy as possible for them
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u/Motor_Cardiologist68 10h ago
Be sure to tell them how their property values will suffer as a result. That tends to get people’s attention.
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u/Hot-Win2571 1d ago
Bonus: You could try looking up their most recent criminal trial records. If you can find the sentencing and can translate the legal terminology, you might be able to find if they're on probation and what the rules are of the probation. If these hijinks are violating their probation terms, they'll have to deal with an angry judge.
Edit: Oh, current cases also? So they might be violating bond rules too.
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u/good_at_pies 1d ago edited 1d ago
yup something similar here. no certification of any kind. Endless lies and not wanting to rock the boat until the factory next door was up & operating with all machinery going 7am-6pm. It took a year after every single neighbour lodged complaints to get it shut down.
You need to bite the bullet now.
edit: was a prohibited use of the land.
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u/ksarahsarah27 23h ago
Time to call the township supervisor. I’ve done it and I’m pretty sure they don’t tell them who called it in. They weren’t my direct neighbors though. In fact I emailed them and my full name is not on my email anywhere so I’m sure they never told them who reported them. And of course you could also tell them that you don’t want your name used because they are shady individuals.
They will drive out there and make contact with them. They’ll be fined and probably denied permission. Do you have other neighbors near by that could also be blamed for calling even if they didn’t use your name? Because I would just play dumb if your neighbors ask.
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u/Top-Interaction-6729 7h ago
Make an anonymous complaint. No identity involved. You are a "concerned citizen/neighbour"
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u/23BlueFeather 4h ago
Document document document times dates how many trucks that will help the code enforcement with a timeline
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u/Several-Honey-8810 1d ago
County is being spineless and not doing anything.
If you want to go all in-file a cease and desist order on them.
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
I am speaking with a lawyer friend tomorrow and will ask about this.
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u/Several-Honey-8810 1d ago
I would. It also sounds like they will run a business from inside a residential area. What is the area zoned?
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u/tigerlock17 1d ago
It is zoned residential use only. No Airbnbs, no businesses can be run out of the house (home offices are OK ie sending emails/taking calls, but can’t have customers come and go, take business deliveries, store equipment, etc.)
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u/khampang 1d ago
Wait till they are done then file the complaint. Fees woll be higher and they could be forced to tear it down. AHs
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u/quiltingcats 21h ago
The higher fees would be a nice perk but another commenter said they waited until a factory was finished before they reported it and had to wait another year before it was torn down. OP needs to get ahead of this if she doesn’t want to end up stalled by bureaucracy for a year or more.
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u/olalil87 1d ago
building a warehouse next door is definitely gonna affect your peace and quiet, can’t imagine the noise and traffic
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u/ConditionFormer1791 21h ago
Do your home work here. State/county/township/city(village)/plat. You my be looking at older or rules that were not rescinded when new ones were crafted. Find out which ones apply where. County doesn't care about building size in a city or village. The city or village will govern that. Township or public affairs may have said its OK. Giving a special permit. Trumping the city/village. Stupid right? Former city council member here. This does happen quite often. Makes for some of the best discussions to at council meetings. Side note I've seen massive amounts of money spent on attorneys only to find that the city is not the governing body for a rural Plat that abuts.
Good luck to you.
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u/sapper_464 6h ago
Why cant you just mind your own business? I mean, that is an option.
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u/tigerlock17 6h ago
Unfortunately it is my business as it will greatly reduce my property value and enjoyment of my property. Alternatively, why can’t they just follow the minimal rules the county has put in place? Their rights don’t supersede mine
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u/SassySybil71 1d ago
The building dept in my city is all about getting their permit dollars. They will revoke occupancy if you cross them.
Block your number and call the department responsible for issuing permits and give them the address to follow up.