Neighbor's Construction Noise
My neighbor has been renovating his house for well over a year. He does much of the work himself with the occasional help of hired tradesmen plus plumber and electrician. That’s cool but the problem is that he mostly works on the weekends often starting as early as 7:30am and going as late as 9pm….
My neighbor has been renovating his house for well over a year. He does much of the work himself with the occasional help of hired tradesmen plus plumber and electrician. That’s cool but the problem is that he mostly works on the weekends often starting as early as 7:30am and going as late as 9pm. The noise from hammering and power tools can be incredible. He doesn’t have any work permits visible even though — judging from the construction debris in the back yard — the work he’s doing is substantial. What are the regulations about when this work can and can’t be undertaken? And when do you need a permit? He never warns us about his projects ahead of time — he refaced the front of his house without a word of warning that this long and messy job was about to begin, leaving us to beg the guys doing it to clean up our frontyard — and has a history of showing complete disregard for us (eg. flooding our parlor floor when the guys repointing his backwall got careless with the hose; using powertools in the back yard at 7:30pm on a Saturday when we had friends over on our deck). I’m sick of playing nice with him and need some advice on the most effective ways to lodge a few official complaints.
well, you could kidnap one of his kids or something like that….
no……..
hey, set his house on fire?
no…..
call 311 or dob?
nope, they don’t care and won’t show up, and if they do, they’ll find nothing wrong.
hmm. how about you just set his house on fire, and if yours catches fire as well, hmm, well, so be it.
Anon. 11:30am. You sound like a psycho neighbor. I sure hope you are paying for the extra time your neighbors are taking to finish their house. Why in the world a GC would stop the job because you say so is beyond me. If there is a dangrous condition or they are violating some law that you brought to their attention that would be reason for the GC to decide whether to stop the job. But your neighbors are certainly going to hate your guts when they move in next door to you. Because you shouldn’t have any power over their GC and if you do it probably is because you are annoying jerks. And you will get the same behaviour from your new neighbors I am sure. In fact perhaps I am going to be your new neighbor. Let me tell you about my stereo. It’s loud! But perhaps you love Zeppelin as much as I do? One man’s control is another’s jail!
Winter is coming so the outside noise won’t be a problem. I would not call 311 or the DoB. You are upset about the noise and the mess but not the fact that he doesn’t have permits…so talk to him about setting up some reasonable working hours. I am surrounded by construction noise and talk to my neighbors General Contractorss on an almost daily basis. The job was an entire 3 story gut job so we have had our problems along the way. One thing that went a long way towards maintaining the peace has been our agreement to let him work on Saturdays and Sundays. However, at ANY time I decide that there is a problem of any kind he stops his crews immediately. This goes for regular Mon-Fri 7am-6pm working hours as well. So in a way I have control of his job. He works extra quiet and careful in order to get that seven day work week.
The fines for working on outside of permitted hours start at $3500. I can’t imagine what the fine is for working without a permit. But if I were you I’d talk it over with your neighbor. Because really the 311 system will fine him and/or shut him down without a permit and I’m sure he really doesn’t want that to happen.
I imagine you ahve already tried this but speak to him first. Tell him that his work is really biting into your quality oif life. It is fine that he is trying to better his house but he has to consider his neghbors first. Anybody he has working on his outside needs to clean up there mess. If this does not work call 311 repeatedly. I am redoing my house but never start before 9am on the weekends and I am friends with my neghbors, a key.
He’s obviously doing the work without permits. have you tried asking him to be more respectfully? Given he is in a vulnerable position you would think he would do everything to avoid problems.
DOB will show up during the week, find no evidence of construction, and close the case. It’s very frustrating. But yeah, call 311.
to answer your question …just call 311
Wow I am that guy, but i don’t work on weekends and I try to keep my neighbors in the loop. A permit is necessary for extensive work. ESPECIALLY if there are electricians and plumbers involved. Work is permited 8am to 5pm weekdays and specail permission is needed for Saturday and Sunday. i am pretty sure that is what it says on work permits. If you complain to the DOB ..they will come and probably fine him. If that is what it takes to stop playing nice, then so be it. You have a nice home too and you should enjoy it. I am sure if this guy ever finishes and some new person moves into your house and starts all that work the same way he wouldn’t like it!!!