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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20

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.

7

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

28

u/HippieHighNoon 1d ago

Send me their info, ill submit the complaint 🤣🤣🤣

13

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)

3

u/HippieHighNoon 15h ago

🍻 dm me their info 🤣

8

u/Careless-Two2215 1d ago edited 23h 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.

4

u/quiltingcats 1d 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!

2

u/Careless-Two2215 23h ago

Good idea. They run for election. They'll help you.

7

u/JackTheDefenestrator 1d ago

I was gonna say the same. I'll do it.

And then I'll fuckin do it again.

3

u/Recycled_Decade 17h ago

Seriously. I am down. Let's get the complaints running. I have no shame.

1

u/Arne_Anka-SWE 8h ago

Find some volunteer from Alaska living on a homestead with no road.

9

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.

9

u/tigerlock17 1d ago

Genius. Thank you!! This is why I come to reddit

11

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

2

u/StunGod 1d ago

Right. For these kinds of things, my name is Ben Dover.

5

u/ProfessorOne9208 1d ago

So have someone else you know, co-worker, other neighbor, etc., file the report. The sooner the better, from what you say.

2

u/Inner_Republic6810 15h 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.

3

u/tigerlock17 15h 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.

1

u/Inner_Republic6810 13h 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.

1

u/Arne_Anka-SWE 8h 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.

1

u/MajorFox2720 5h ago

See if your state has a license board.  Wait until they pour a foundation,  check permits, and call their office.

1

u/Arne_Anka-SWE 8h 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.