Fence violation filed by neighbor
Looking for some advice. After speaking with our neighbor and getting their approval, we replaced an old fence between our yards in Brooklyn. They decided they didn’t like the fence and, instead of speaking to us about it, they filed a complaint with NYC Buildings. Technically, it looks like we needed a permit as we live in a multi-family co-op. Does anyone have experience with building complaints being filed against them? Is the DOB reasonable or will we see crazy fines?
Guest User | 6 years ago
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greenworks | 5 years and 11 months ago
Dying for an update here — your neighbor sounds like a jerk.
Guest User | 6 years ago
One small suggestion: when we redid the fence in our yard we talked to the neighbors on all three sides (two sides and back) and let them know what we were doing and asking if folks had concerns and/or questions. We got good feedback, including an excellent and unexpected suggestion from a neighbor whom I had rarely spoken, but then, and here’s the suggestion, we wrote a letter memorializing what we understood our conversation had been and then offered that if this understanding was incorrect, to please let us know prior to the date the fence was scheduled to go up. No one responded to the letter, the fence was built and two years later a neighbor complained that she thought the fence was ugly and wanted us to remove the portion on her side/make it look better. By then the fence was vine covered and I thought lovely, but get that not everyone shares the same aesthetic. I reminded her of our conversation which she also denied and then I showed her the letter which I had hand delivered to her that included both a description and photo of the proposed fence. She became muc h easier to work with after that and we were able to work together to think about plantings that might make her more comfortable with fence. In the end, no changes were actually made. I realize this won’t always work, but my one suggestion is don’t just have a conversation, memorialize what you have discussed, what you understand the agreement to be and give that opportunity to correct the understanding. For most of us our home is our greatest investment both in terms of sentiment and in terms of money so I get that folks feel strongly.
stevecym | 6 years ago
S, i don’t want to hijack this thread but this entire neighborhood since we have moved in it has been about people who are about them, about them, about them, about them. i lived in many places and soon after i moved in realized there was something bizarre here and after trying and doing things for people (a lot) i learned it was one way and never comes back the other way until they need something; they are like children. i never thought about fox five (because i do not know what it is; i have never watched – no, i have never “seen” – it and don’t want to) until a new comer like me moved in here and we got to talking and he said “I walk by their houses and all i see is fox five news on”. and i might be a narrow minded hater but i would only be seen as such in this neighborhood and myself was afraid to put a bumper sticker on my car here during the last presidential election for fear a rock would get put through the window by some narrow-minded haters and i am not kidding. they don’t care about anyone but themselves and every conversation is about something abou t them or what can their lives easier. nothing for the greater good, locally (not even for a neighbor) or globally and after 13 years i know their politics and positions on many things – but what is worse is it is the entire place; i used my neighbor and that story not to poke at her specifically. her being old really has nothing to do with it other than that they don’t give a damn about anything larger or anything further down the road than their limited sight can see.
go read what i say about the woman asking how a gentrifier can fit in in her own neighborhood and understand that 13 years ago i was the first outsider on this street and the experience was bizarre to say the least. if you really want to test me, ask away on the “gentrifier’s” post and i will fire away. Understand, like that “gentrifier” i lived in another part of the city – Sunnyside – before moving here and everyone got along and was at least concerned about what was happening nearby.
Understand, usually when neighbors do something good, like plant a tree, we don’t complain about it even if we don’t like it (i don’t like their white vinyl fence as i am afraid of damaging it with something, but i don’t complain to them). leave it alone. for her to say something was off. if i was a “hater”, this is what i would have done; after she complained about that tree, i would have planted six more of them. she should have kept her mouth shut about the tree. its a tree. she has a son my age who can rake the leaves up.
ask on that other post and i will tell more.
bgdiktzykqbsdwrc | 6 years ago
Wow stevecym you should have just talked about the fence and not made disparaging remarks about your neighbor. How do you know what tv channel she watches and why do you care ?or if she cares about the environment ? EVERYONE is entitled to their opinions. You are the narrow minded hater , your holier than thou attitude stinks. Just because she’s old doesn’t mean she’s not as good as you, I’m betting she is better. Maybe she’ll even out live you.
mattieweiser1
in General Discussion 6 years ago
We are in the process of building a new fence with neighbors on both sides – we were thinking of putting in doors on either side so in case we feel the need to clean the weeds on either side of the yard (my neighbors might not get around to it so often) or just be neighborly, we can give them a heads up to unlock their side so we can enter. We would plan to have locks on both sides of the door. Is there something that could go awry that I might be forgetting?
stevecym | 6 years ago
i can add something to this about neighbors and fences and such discussions. please see my other post about some neighbors in some neighborhoods under the gentrification post. i wanted to plant a tree against my neighbor’s fence. like a good neighbor, i asked if she minded if i put it against the fence. at that time she let me know she would be putting a new fence up, something taller and more substantial that she can better hide behind but other than that, she told me she did not mind. so instead of planting the tree on the property line, I put it a full 2′ inside my property. i wanted it there to block the sun as i am a light-skinned eastern european and burn and thinking of the greater good, i wanted to do something for the environment. three years later, she complained to me that she wished i had put my tree further in my yard. when i reminded her that i had asked her if she minded where i put the tree, she told me i never asked. what happen is the same with you; she decided she did not like the tree (having to rake the leaves once a year meant sh e had to work her muscles – which were arthropathic from sitting around watching fox five all day – more in a period of a couple of days than she had the entire prior 10 months of the year ) and she told me i never asked. There is a lesson here for us new comers: don’t ask if they care anything about a fence or tree you want to put near the property line, just do it and do not give small-minded fox-five people an option when it comes to doing anything good for the environment; a lot of them know they will be gone in 10 years and they consequently don’t care about the environment or the world they leave behind for us or their grandchildren.
mozeeatupu | 6 years ago
A complaint is not a violation and no permit is needed
cate | 6 years ago
I agree with bobjbkln no permit should be required to install a fence. What did the complaint say?
Arkady | 6 years ago
Did you get their approval in writing or email so you can substantiate it?
resident2 | 6 years ago
So long as it is not more than 6′ high and is not on their property. There should be no problem.
shahnandersen
in General Discussion 6 years ago
I hope someone will confirm what I am saying or correct me if I am wrong. but I don’t believe you need a permit to erect a fence in your rear yard. So unless there is another issue, you should not get a violation.
eman134 | 6 years ago
work without a permit fines start at $1500…dont look for any leeway from the DOB. If the DOB can’t gain access the complaint will be closed after 2 or 3 attempts