Code enforcement officer dispute? (HOA, insurance, appliances)

[Kickerclt]

I have been in my house for a couple years now and we don’t exactly fit the norm around here with having smaller kids and we are younger than most of our neighbors. We have had code enforcement called multiple times with the result usually being no violation found l. However we have a new officer now who seems to be on a power trip. My wife called to ask for clarification on why we got a notice and was told we cant park our lawnmower in the driveway or have a gas can beside the house…..

She asked where is they in code and the officer said she interprets as she sees fit and said it doesn’t belong there….. I think it’s an over reach we have had it there for 2 years it’s not broke down and our drove way is long enough we have it plus room for 4 more cars….

I am livid because of that attitude and how she spoke to my wife.. so my question is who do I escalate to?


There is nowhere on the nuisance code they says you can’t keep a mower on the side of the house. Said grill was fine but not a mower or gas can in view..

I would let it go but I know the neighbors will call again for something trivial and this inspector will just issue citations… perhaps I will start with an email to her so I can. Have a paper trail and then escalate up the chain? Looks like she’s only been on the job 4 months.

Thanks for listening…

[CLT4]

The code enforcement officer is probably getting you by considering the lawn mower and oil an unsecured appliance or potentially dangerous device (i.e. could a child wander onto your driveway and get run over by the mower and there is no fence or shed to prevent the child from accessing). If these were behind a fence, they would be secured under code.

(i)Causing or allowing the accumulation of unsightly litter, overgrown weeds and grass, yard waste, foul odor, dead animals, Junk, unsecured appliances, or potentially dangerous devices to remain on or emanate from a premises. A civil penalty in the amount of $150.00 may be issued to any person in violation of this section.

Do you have space for a shed in your backyard to store the mower? That might help the situation and is a more typical location to store lawn equipment versus a driveway in front of the house. It could reduce your liability risk in an accident too to protect yourself from any lawsuits (say a kid drank the oil and it isn't behind a fence and the parents sue). Your umbrella insurance policy will certainly thank you!

[Kickerclt]

Now if it was said that way I would be TOTALLY fine vs the I interpret it the way I want and I will be doing it from now on response just ground my gears. The fact she felt she could tell me you can have a grill there but kit a mower just made no sense.

We have plenty of room in the back yard to move it but I we have other home with a collection of power equipment dead in the front yard. I pulled violation history and you can see they complain on kids playing or kids having a ball in the yard etc. the complaint wasn’t for a lawn mower it was supposedly for yard debris… they cut their grass and blew leaves towards my yard and then called 311 to complain so it looked old a stark contrast.. the complaint specifically said they were afraid of rodents to try to initiate a sanitation compliant. That wasn’t t the case but I guess she had to find something.


Thanks for your explanation way better than hers!

[Mr78609]

I pulled my old car out of my garage and the code jerk put a warning ticket on it. He needs to Mind his own business,,,

[Owen Wister]

Originally Posted by Mr78609

I pulled my old car out of my garage and the code jerk put a warning ticket on it. He needs to Mind his own business,,,

Ummm, that IS his business! lol

[Mr78609]

Originally Posted by Owen Wister

Ummm, that IS his business! lol

Nope My classic car being parked IN MY driveway is not his business.....UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

[CLT4]

Originally Posted by Mr78609

Nope My classic car being parked IN MY driveway is not his business.....UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Was your classic car operating and registered with tags or was it a non operating car?

[Mr78609]

The true classic car was sitting in front of my garage for several days because of floor painting in the garage, the restoration had not been finished......

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Mr78609

The true classic car was sitting in front of my garage for several days because of floor painting in the garage, the restoration had not been finished......

In most cities, if a vehicle doesn't have current tags, it can't be parked on the driveway.

As for OP, you might consider contacting the head of the City department and ask them for an explanation, and to specify the actual code section you are accused of violating.

[getatag]

Code enforcement guys, or especially HOA guys are looking for lack of tag on vehicle. I keep an old tag hanging around just for such times where I have to move my old car to the street or driveway for a short time. A lack of tag draws immediate attention, an expired tag takes closer scrutiny, much closer than enforcement people are willing to endure.