DOB Complaint

One of my curmudgeon neighbors filed a complaint against us for allegedly doing construction without a permit.  (We were landscaping the backyard.)  What happens next?  Will we have to pay a fine?

megannyc

in Building Code 12 years and 10 months ago

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masterbuilder | 12 years and 10 months ago

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From my experience, people who like to complain will continue to complain.  And everyone has the right to complain.  Also from my experience, DOB inspectors easily become agitated if they can’t gain access and may threaten to start writing violations based on that alone.  If they can gain access, and you are cooperative, they tend to be fairly helpful people.  If they realize a neighbor is abusing the 311 system, they will quickly tire of the ruse.  We had an issue make its way up to a DOB supervisor very quickly because they did not want to keep sending inspectors out to deal with someone who was crying wolf.

At any rate, maybe you should call 311 and ask about your rights.

daveinbedstuy | 12 years and 10 months ago

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Yes, bobjohn.  That’s why talock is wrong.   In times like these, where the city is looking for any revenue source it can find, they will find, they can and will give you a violation for work that doesn’t meet code.  They will be arbitrary and you will pay.

Do not let them in, under any circumstances.

talock | 12 years and 10 months ago

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If you have something to hide, than i guess not letting them in is your only option!  Not trying to be glib, but the tone i’m getting here is that yes, your neighbor may be over-reaching, but it sounds like you may be hiding something as well.  If so, don’t let the inspector in.  You have the right to defend that you are  not doing any work as i’m assuming you don’t have a building permit.

If you aren’t hiding anything/aren’t doing any construction work (gardening doesn’t count), don’t have a permit open for other work, then i can’t see what the harm would be in letting them in from my experience.  If you don’t have a work permit open on the property, they can’t give you a violation for non-compliant work, only work without a permit, since, all previous closed permits have been signed off.  This is, of course, assuming that there are no blatant life-safety violations (i’m not sure of the conditions of the house are).  Granted, coming from the architect’s side of things, i find it’s better to just put it to bed.  Despite the mixed-up DOB, i learned from a very difficult neighbor on a prior townhouse project, that the DOB does actually keep a record of who is calling 311 on properties if it becomes chronic, therefore i suggest getting the inspector in there so they can dismiss the complaint, and they will likely stop responding if they get complaints from the same person.

bobjohn | 12 years and 10 months ago

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out of curiosity if the complain is about work in backyard, can inspector write permit for something else (i.e. for broken wiring he will see on the way to backyard on garden level?

daveinbedstuy | 12 years and 10 months ago

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Test.  posting on my Mac

dobalerts | 12 years and 10 months ago

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And remember DO NOT let the inspector in the door even if you have nothing to hide, because the inspector will find something and it will only cost you. MarkDOB Alerts

dobalerts | 12 years and 10 months ago

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Very interesting, we at DOBAlerts.com constantly monitor 311DOB complaints, we recently found a very funny 311 complaint, someone called tosay his neighbor is doing major construction and the entire house is shaking, theinspector arrived and found the home owner gardening and mowing the lawn.But in any case if you have issues with your neighborscalling 311 on you for any reason just check us out and let us be on alert foryou. It’s great you found the 311 complaint before the inspector arrived. Our programwww.dobalerts.com constantly monitorsthe DOB website for 311 complaints and we send it to you in an email and/ortext right away so you can take any proper precautions BEFORE you receive aviolation or SWO.I hope we can assist youMark

Townie | 12 years and 10 months ago

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How do you know there is a complaint filed?   Did they post a yellow inspection paper to your door asking you to schedule an appointment?  You can check the DOB  BIS web site, type in your address and see what’s up.  You don’t have to let them into your home.   If you are building a fence/retaining wall or doing significant excavation work make sure everything is kosher.

Petebklyn | 12 years and 10 months ago

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You don’t even have to grant access or answer the door.  After couple tries they’ll drop it anyway.
Don’t worry