installation of extended driveway without permit

[mk378]

I think all you have now is if a general construction permit is required for this type of construction, and if the newly paved area is large enough to require a storm drainage evaluation. Anything about whether someone may or may not be living in an RV can't be addressed unless and until that actually happens.

You should point out to the neighbor that since he is hiring a contractor, to protect himself he needs to insist that the contract includes in writing that the contractor will obtain all necessary permits. Any contractor that wants the owner to pull permits himself is not legit.

 

[GON]

I agree, I hate to be a rat but this is the only way out and letting the inspectors know Hard part will be him suspecting you did it. Might want to ask the ordinance-guy to have a cover story like, "I was driving by and saw some work". Hopefully he's cool with that.

I let the neighbor know I am the whistleblower.

Way to much at financial risk.

Looking at what he is doing, one strong rain wipes out part of my from yard, and likely undermines his new driveway, and existing driveway.

I am likely doing him a indirect favor, doubtful he sees it that way.

Additionally, I am really shocked how poorly he was doing this job. He bought a nice home, and keeps it nice. He has only lived in the home a few months.

 

[crashz]

Here in the "Live Free or Die" state we have driveway permits and a strong statute against people living in campers on property not designated as a camp ground or as an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). It is up to the town or city to enforce, and only do it when there is an active complaint. No complaint, no enforcement. Even if the town knows about it, they can't act until the complaint is registered.

 

[nomas]

How will the RV get power ? More than likely won't be to code , which would involve more permits .

 

[chazthespaz]

I'd say call city building inspection department before you leave. If they have jurisdiction, they could "red tag" (order stop) of work without permits.

 

[GON]

Hasty update, code enforcement just drove by, took pictures, and departed. Code enforcement never left the vehicle or spike to me. The homeowner walked out, but not sure he and code enforcement spoke.

 

[Arc]

There is always two sides to every story.

 

[PandaBear]

How will the RV get power ? More than likely won't be to code , which would involve more permits .

In 2026 there are many ways. You can just have a "power wall" plugged in once in a while to "recharge" and then "discharge" in between.

Since building code is very local, I would say most builders in the area would know what is allowed and not allowed and design / build accordingly. The chance of the work being adjusted to the code is high, but the chance of the idea abandoned is very low.

Just because something is build to code doesn't mean it is build to good aesthetic. There is nothing you can do about buying a home next to a slob and that's why some people are willing to pay a high price living in expensive neighborhoods. It would be hard to prove the inlaw is living in the RV or just chilling there and not sleep there every single day permanently. I can see someone renting it out to a tenant but family member is hard to prove.

 

[IndyIan]

In 2026 there are many ways. You can just have a "power wall" plugged in once in a while to "recharge" and then "discharge" in between.

Since building code is very local, I would say most builders in the area would know what is allowed and not allowed and design / build accordingly. The chance of the work being adjusted to the code is high, but the chance of the idea abandoned is very low.

Just because something is build to code doesn't mean it is build to good aesthetic. There is nothing you can do about buying a home next to a slob and that's why some people are willing to pay a high price living in expensive neighborhoods. It would be hard to prove the inlaw is living in the RV or just chilling there and not sleep there every single day permanently. I can see someone renting it out to a tenant but family member is hard to prove.

And what does it matter anyways if its parked there 24/7? As long as its not an eyesore, I couldn't care less. It could be empty and a eyesore. You can do all sorts municipal by-law violations, but if you aren't bothering your neighbors, then no one notices or cares? In general, the purpose of all them is to keep the town looking half respectable and not to bother your neighbors, so if people do that, its fine with me.
My neighbor used to have a fellow living in a trailer in back corner of a field for nearly 20 years, it didn't bother anyone and he was a nice guy, just a bit short on retirement funds. I guess not one of dozens of people who knew, reported it?

 

[PandaBear]

And what does it matter anyways if its parked there 24/7? As long as its not an eyesore, I couldn't care less. It could be empty and a eyesore. You can do all sorts municipal by-law violations, but if you aren't bothering your neighbors, then no one notices or cares? In general, the purpose of all them is to keep the town looking half respectable and not to bother your neighbors, so if people do that, its fine with me.
My neighbor used to have a fellow living in a trailer in back corner of a field for nearly 20 years, it didn't bother anyone and he was a nice guy, just a bit short on retirement funds. I guess not one of dozens of people who knew, reported it?

It is hard to say and not a black and white. Our office got into a lock down once because 2 trailer dwellers right outside our parking lot got into a fight and one murdered another. Some places with a lot of trailers / RVs have sanitation problems, and some residents in certain neighborhoods have a beef with anything that would drop their property values.

On my street we have a few RVs parking out front and that doesn't typically bother me. Maybe my neighborhood is not that high end to begin with. On the other hand I know my neighbors won't complain about me buying half fixed salvaged to repair and flip on the street. I am sure most people have something others don't like and others have something that I don't like.

I am not sure if GON can complain about someones inlaw living in an RV in the driveway is my point. I can see people complain about renting the driveway but if someone's inlaw use the RV as a bedroom there is not much he can complain about.

 

[D60]

Since we wanna codify aesthetics, I hereby ban all ugly and overweight people. After all, I don't want to look at that....

It's not a slippery slope at all.

What's the expression....Beauty is in the eye of the planning commission? Yep, pretty sure that's it. And all those commissioners better be darn attractive!!

Anyway @GON sorry that TX property fell through. Keep looking!

 

[GON]

I am not sure if GON can complain about someones inlaw living in an RV in the driveway is my point. I can see people complain about renting the driveway but if someone's inlaw use the RV as a bedroom there is not much he can complain about.

The town has a ordinance prohibiting living in a RV that is parked on a residential lot. In March, the town tried to pass an ordinance of no RV storage on residential property, but public outcry resulted in shielding of the no RV storage ordinance.

 

[GON]

Since we wanna codify aesthetics, I hereby ban all ugly and overweight people. After all, I don't want to look at that....

It's not a slippery slope at all.

What's the expression....Beauty is in the eye of the planning commission? Yep, pretty sure that's it. And all those commissioners better be darn attractive!!

Anyway @GON sorry that TX property fell through. Keep looking!

The significant issue was the neighbor was installing a driveway extension on the cheap. As @Chris142 knows, the desert suffers tremendously from erosion and damage when it rains.

Had the driveway been installed without a retaining wall between our properties, a few rainfalls and my property would have eroded into his lower property, and his driveway likely would have collapsed from underneath.

This is a really big deal, and I am more than amazed the person he hired to do the work had zero care about the needs of a job if this nature.

 

[Hollowed_Mist65]

I would definitely be concerned about the sewage on top of the eye sore.

Absolutely this!

 

[mk378]

I'm not sure how far it has to go to be considered "living". A lot of families use them as an extra bedroom but eat and use the bathroom in the house.

 

[drtyler]

If your property is higher in elevation, why would it suddenly start washing away if your lower elevation neighbor extends his driveway?

I understand your unhappiness for him not having the work done as city code states, just having a hard time visualizing the erosion issue.

 

[GON]

If your property is higher in elevation, why would it suddenly start washing away if your lower elevation neighbor extends his driveway?

I understand your unhappiness for him not having the work done as city code states, just having a hard time visualizing the erosion issue.

A neutral and natural grade lined by landscape gravel currently exists. What would happen is the neighbor would have to raise his current and new driveway by at least a foot, or a retaining wall would need to be inserted between the property lines. One can't cut out a foot of grade along a natural drainage route, without the higher elevation land slowly collapsing.

Go look at some of @Chris142 photos from damaged caused naturally in his desert terrain by rain.

 

[drtyler]

I understand better now, thanks. It was hard for me to visualize.

A neutral and natural grade lined by landscape gravel currently exists. What would happen is the neighbor would have to raise his current and new driveway by at least a foot, or a retaining wall would need to be inserted between the property lines. One can't cut out a foot of grade along a natural drainage route, without the higher elevation land slowly collapsing.

Go look at some of @Chris142 photos from damaged caused naturally in his desert terrain by rain.

 

[fdcg27]

It is hard to say and not a black and white. Our office got into a lock down once because 2 trailer dwellers right outside our parking lot got into a fight and one murdered another. Some places with a lot of trailers / RVs have sanitation problems, and some residents in certain neighborhoods have a beef with anything that would drop their property values.

On my street we have a few RVs parking out front and that doesn't typically bother me. Maybe my neighborhood is not that high end to begin with. On the other hand I know my neighbors won't complain about me buying half fixed salvaged to repair and flip on the street. I am sure most people have something others don't like and others have something that I don't like.

I am not sure if GON can complain about someones inlaw living in an RV in the driveway is my point. I can see people complain about renting the driveway but if someone's inlaw use the RV as a bedroom there is not much he can complain about.

You and your neighbors apparently have the sort of live and let live view that we could do with more of in our increasingly impersonal and homogenized world.

 

[CKN]

You and your neighbors apparently have the sort of live and let live view that we could do with more of in our increasingly impersonal and homogenized world.

Agree. I can see the drive way being a possible problem if what GON describes is accurate. However-if a permitted driveway was poured and the neighbor takes care of his house and lot otherwise a MIL in a decent trailer in the driveway is no concern of mine.