Bought a house that had a new gravel pad installed. Get a letter from the code enforcer that we can't park on it because it's an unapproved surface and that we'll get a $2k per instance fine every time they catch us. So we stop parking on it (have other home / life issues popping up, so not focused on it), and we park on the street.

Get another letter from same person (like 3 months later) saying the house is new and all new houses are required by city ordinance to have a 2-car pad. Again, a $2k per day fine if not handled (and also a Class C Misdemeanor).

I feel like he's just fishing at this point. I originally had a acquittance that was going to do the work, but he's slow playing my parking pad since he's going to do our's for just cost and time and he's got some regular projects lined up.

Previously, a redevelopment manager for the city intervened (on a different issue) because the person that redid my house has redone other houses as well, and the manager didn't understand why this code enforcer was cherry picking. Any ideas on the best way to proceed?

First, I'd probably do some online investigating and see if there could be any local unsolved murders the guy could be responsible for. A la BTK

Then I'd probably try to see if my buddy could push me up in his schedule even though it's a favor

I'd like to understand more what cherry-picking code violations looks like. Is he just sending actual violations and you were expecting good job letters for things you weren't violating?

He has cited different reasons the pad should be paved. First it was a stop work order (before it sold) because the improvement made was an unapproved surface, and that was squashed by the city's redevelopment manager, second it was for me "parking on my yard" (since it was an unapproved surface), and I started parking on the street. Third, my house is pretty unique as it was moved to a new lot and renovated, and this third violation was for me having a "new build" that now requires a 2-car pad. The violation changes.

Just how ****ty is your house?

Worst thing you can do is NOT respond. Call whatever number is on the notice and ask them what you need to do, and then do it immediately.

We have a drainage tax now based on impervious cover. If you don't have enough concrete/parking area, you aren't paying enough taxes. And the city needs their tax money. They make you get a permit so that they know if you added concrete without having to drive by your house each day.

They don't want to drive by every house in the city every day, so Violations are supposed to be enough of a pain that you don't want to ever get violations again. Seems like its working...

Edit: And did you get a permit to move the house, a permit to reconnect utilities, and all the permits required for the renovation? If you increased the value, the city needs permits so that they can tax you more...

Don't buy in Colony Ridge.....

500,000ags said:

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He has cited different reasons the pad should be paved. First it was a stop work order (before it sold) because the improvement made was an unapproved surface, and that was squashed by the city's redevelopment manager, second it was for me "parking on my yard" (since it was an unapproved surface), and I started parking on the street. Third, my house is pretty unique as it was moved to a new lot and renovated, and this third violation was for me having a "new build" that now requires a 2-car pad. The violation changes.

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The violation changes or the setup violates multiple codes?