I know there have been some of you that have had problems with CC&R's working on your rigs at your house....

I have a D* neighbor that lives about 10 houses down who belongs to the Sierra Club...................He used to wheel even!!....he turned me into the county as being a neusance to the neighbor hood and doing major automotive repair in my garage...

But I had a visit from them on Friday.......My garage was a mess...but when the door is closed you cant tell whats going on....So i dont have parts laying around or anything..
At 8pm every day we have things shut down, if we work past that we have all of the doors closed..


The lady told me that I am not allowed to Weld, Cut, Grind of any kind in my garage or she would give me a notice..because those are not tools zoned for residential areas............

My immediate neighbors dont mind me working, some of them even help out and go wheeling with us.....

Do i have a leg to stand on here??

sounds like BS...is it the homeowners acc on your ass?...never herd of the county saying that...maybe cuz i live in OK?

Exactly who (department) visited you, and exactly which law did they state you were in violation of? Time for you to do some research...

She (the county) needs to tell you where it is specifically stated that you are not allowed to Weld, Cut, Grind of any kind in my garage or she would give me a notice..because those are not tools zoned for residential areas The devil is in the details. If they can give you that info., you might be in trouble.

:mad: ppl like that tick me off, i have an immediate neighbor like that who calls the cops on me and takes pics of me while working, so he can send them into the city, as you mentioned, as long as the grinding or air compressor doesn't cut in at 3am, then you have no problems, the only way you can violate a law is if you are actually running an automotive business from your home, in which case you get paid to do it,
thats how it works here, so i'd tell that prick to shove it:mad3: :flipoff:

Idea:
Get some STRONG WEED KILLER and late one nite go spray his whole LAWN and in a few weeks call him in for having an eye sore lawn of the neighborhood.
Or with the weed killer write dick on his lawn and sign it from GOD :flipoff2:

A friend lives in a area that has a county Ord. that states that any work on a vehicle MUST be done in your Garage and MUST be your vehicle.
He was called in by a neighbor and was cited he went to court and was able to get it overturned.

Yep, fawking bullshit.

From their website:
Q: What are the regulations regarding conducting major and minor automotive repair in residential zones?

A: Major automotive repair is not allowed in residential zones and includes all automotive work not defined as minor automotive repair. Minor automotive repair is defined as brake part replacement, minor tune-ups, change of oil and filter, repair of flat tires, lubrication and other similar operations. Minor automotive repair is allowed in residential zones only on vehicles that are registered to occupants of the property. If the minor repairs occur outside of a fully enclosed garage they may not result in the vehicle being inoperable in excess of 24 hours.

http://www.saccounty.net/planning/enforce/faqs.html

Yup, me and rerard have gottn like 5 warning notices from the county, they give us 2 weeks to clean up, so we do. I plan on walking house to house, introduce my self, and state who i am and what i do... This opens up line(s) of communication. I will also give them my business card and cell phone number.

We have no idea what neighbor it is that keeps reporting us. 99% Of the time we stop (NOISY) Work at 9pm. We keep our yard purty clean, i consider us very respectable neighbors.

I plan on attending a county meeting and confront the board about the "MAJOR AUTO REPAIR" and how not all of us have the $$$ to pay "certified locations" to do the work, etc etc...

RudeZUk gimme a e-mail dane@associatedsound.com , maybe you and i and some others can form a group against this???

whatcha all think?

Dude, it's not just the county you have to worry about but the city. EG has an ordinance against working on cars at your home.

This is what I say. If you are doing it in your garage, especially with the garage door closed, fawk them. I can see if you are working in the driveway all the time, or you're making a lot of noise all the time (doors open and working everyday for months (not just one month)). But with the door closed and being cool about it during late hours? Might as well be in Russia or some shit like that. Land of the free my ass!

I'm just waiting for one of my neighbors to turn me in. The guy across the way is a real piece of shit.

-Jack

Glad I live in SD and MT. They would never be able to pull of that shit.....I just changed my cooling system out behind the dumpster next to our apartments.

I would find something that this dick has that is out of regulations and report him in. Fight fire with fire.

:idea: You need to stop focousing on the Repair aspect of your rigs. Are your really having to do repairs?.... Focus on the construction aspect of your rigs, It's a HOBBY, not unlike building a set of bunk beds for your kids, or widdling a lawn orniment.

:idea: Call it ART!! Take all our broken parts... Weld, Grind, File, and Beat them into a solid chunk of steel (keeping in mind the point is to make as much noise as possible), and when the lady comes back... show her your work Say it's an expression of your Feminine side. and give her one of these:flipoff:

Actually im dont repair shit, I ether UPGRADE IT, or DISMANTLE it... NO REPAIRS DONE!

Me and RERARD just torched up the ol ranger i had into like 20 pieces, we got a notice for major auto repair...

I understand the code was made to keep our hoods lookn like the "HOOD" or REO-LINDA... We clean up, our home looks 100x better than it did with the previous renters... :)

http://www.towerofyouth.org/upload/kjell/BLING.jpg



Originally posted by dgcooper
:idea: You need to stop focousing on the Repair aspect of your rigs. Are your really having to do repairs?.... Focus on the construction aspect of your rigs, It's a HOBBY, not unlike building a set of bunk beds for your kids, or widdling a lawn orniment.

:idea: Call it ART!! Take all our broken parts... Weld, Grind, File, and Beat them into a solid chunk of steel (keeping in mind the point is to make as much noise as possible), and when the lady comes back... show her your work Say it's an expression of your Feminine side. and give her one of these:flipoff:

Originally posted by dgcooper
:idea: You need to stop focousing on the Repair aspect of your rigs. Are your really having to do repairs?.... Focus on the construction aspect of your rigs, It's a HOBBY, not unlike building a set of bunk beds for your kids, or widdling a lawn orniment.

:idea: Call it ART!! Take all our broken parts... Weld, Grind, File, and Beat them into a solid chunk of steel (keeping in mind the point is to make as much noise as possible), and when the lady comes back... show her your work Say it's an expression of your Feminine side. and give her one of these:flipoff:

FARK YEAH...my neighbours have always hated me!!

they'll sell up and move out....just keep into it, they all signed a petition and got onto the council and shiat.....and could do nothing, we arent as loud as the dude who mows his lawn every two days... :mad: and we are only home some weekends, and not at all during the week

Might try another angle. My brother tried to license his wheeler to pay the taxes on it. The state would not declare it a "vehicle" because it would not pass all their stupid rules about bumper height, fender coverage, etc. So he didn't have to pay taxes on it. :D

Are you working on something that is registered as an automobile? Or something not street legal? They can't site you for "major OR minor automotive repair" if your not working on an automobile! :D I would of course check the laws but you may be able to get around it.

FYI these laws are usually enforced on the city/subdivision level. If you need to look this info up go to the court house legal library and ask the librarian to help you. If they are not busy they can be alot of help. Most are law students. ;)

Idea:
Get some STRONG WEED KILLER and late one nite go spray his whole LAWN and in a few weeks call him in for having an eye sore lawn of the neighborhood.
Or with the weed killer write dick on his lawn and sign it from GOD


Shane...Are you getting this. Time for a midnight-run. This man has f@$#ing good idea! I'm in.

Originally posted by NOTPRETTY
Shane...Are you getting this. Time for a midnight-run. This man has f@$#ing good idea! I'm in.

One word: ROUNDUP (http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Lawn_and_Garden-Weed_Control-All-Roundup_Concentrate_Weed_and_Grass_Killer) :evil:

i have repaired something for everybody that i can see from my garage hopefully i won't ever get into trouble. gotta admit it has me worried though,shane is awfully close to me.

you would think that this stuff would apply to those trying to run a
business and not us hobbyists.

for gods sake shane has a group home for juvenile sex offenders on his side of the street. why don't they go harrass them:mad: .

am i rambling??..........rant off.

Good luck at fighting it as I've been through it...I live in a great area but when I work outside I always get the two week clause...just keep that in mind. It would be better to talk to your neighbor and find out if it bothers him and in what aspect. I remember having a party and sending my neighbor to dinner...after that its all cool. Now if he is just a shit to be a shit, then fight fire with fire....call the neighborhod police, all citys have them and put something in his yard to let him experience your pain...from tree's not cut back to trash in his yard....its simple and easy....I to keep my yard very clean and always talk to my neighbors to make sure that nothing I'm doing offends them and if so just stop over and talk to me......

Originally posted by MattS


One word: ROUNDUP (http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Lawn_and_Garden-Weed_Control-All-Roundup_Concentrate_Weed_and_Grass_Killer) :evil:

Bleach works really good also, plus, it's a hellava lot cheaper. :D:D:D

If your garage door is shut they can't tell what is going on inside. Unless they are tresspassing or peeping. Those ARE both criminal offenses. The County web blurb, as shown on the link above seems unenforceable. They would have to cite half of Rio Linda... :D What you do in your own garage is your own business, as long as your not breaking the law.

I am a landscaper and when it comes to payback for pricks, I am in like flin. take a bag of ROCK SALT :D and shake it everywhere. it browns the grass after the first rainfall, then the homeowner waters it into the lawn and it kills everything. but my favorite is a super soaker filled with roundup:D. works great for writing words like " I am a fucktard" or "I am a dildo" in their front lawn. roundup baloons are fun also. If you want I can send you 5 pounds of noxious weed seeds:D


~Nate~

A bit of info on the individual complaining. He is more than 6 houses down from Shane's. There is no way he can hear anything and Shane has kept everything inside the garage except in the day light hours where he might roll the rig out or cut a sheet of steel....sun goes down and its inside because you can't see a damn thing. I was the sheet metal guy for about 1/2 the rig. Anyway...the fact is the guy complaining is a person that is himself miserable and thus must make everyone else miserable. You know...everyone knows someone like that.

Shane's immediate neighbors are all cool and come over to check his progress.

One more thing...Shane lives in a newer up scale area and some of the F@#$ers living in that area have their noses in the air when it comes to blue color people. The funny thing is Shane is a programmer by day and has the skills to be a wrench monkey by night. They're just jealous!

I am a landscaper and when it comes to payback for pricks, I am in like flin. take a bag of ROCK SALT and shake it everywhere. it browns the grass after the first rainfall, then the homeowner waters it into the lawn and it kills everything. but my favorite is a super soaker filled with roundup. works great for writing words like " I am a fucktard" or "I am a dildo" in their front lawn. roundup baloons are fun also. If you want I can send you 5 pounds of noxious weed seeds

BigNate's the Professional!! I like it. I won't be pissing you off!

Originally posted by Disco


Bleach works really good also, plus, it's a hellava lot cheaper. :D:D:D
speaking of cheaper?

engine oil, old diesel, maybe mix in some degreaser


90 wt, from your diffs, and so forth can be described as "having texture" :flipoff2: that stuff all over his car will be difficult to get off, and on carpet......replacement :D

Originally posted by NOTPRETTY
A bit of info on the individual complaining. He is more than 6 houses down from Shane's. There is no way he can hear anything and Shane has kept everything inside the garage except in the day light hours where he might roll the rig out or cut a sheet of steel....sun goes down and its inside because you can't see a damn thing. I was the sheet metal guy for about 1/2 the rig. Anyway...the fact is the guy complaining is a person that is himself miserable and thus must make everyone else miserable. You know...everyone knows someone like that.

Shane's immediate neighbors are all cool and come over to check his progress.

One more thing...Shane lives in a newer up scale area and some of the F@#$ers living in that area have their noses in the air when it comes to blue color people. The funny thing is Shane is a programmer by day and has the skills to be a wrench monkey by night. They're just jealous!

ASSES!! this is the type who USED to live across the road from me

Originally posted by NOTPRETTY
when it comes to blue color people.

what do they got against Smurfs. Fawkers! :flipoff2:
http://www.mushroomvillage.com/sitepics/salbum_floweratwell.jpg

This guy lives about 8 houses from me....He used to be cool when i moved in, come down talking to me about when he used to go wheeling and such........But then one day a switch flipped..............

This guy is the self appointed head of the cc&r and head of the neighborhood watch.....................Hell one of my other neighbors works with him and said he is the same way at work too....

I am green stickering this rig, so that may be ok...........but shit i dont make a mess outside, i stop the noise at 8 pm, even on the weekends!!

I dont usually work in the garage all the time, this month I have just due to the buggy being built...

This guy down the street has never really liked me though...Im the youngest guy on the block that bought one of these houses when they were first built..................He is in his 40's and worked his whole life to get this last house..........(Ive heard this story more than once)..............

But the lady's name is Candy from the Elk Grove office. She told me I was violating a zoning code...................She is supposed to stop by tomorrow and take another look, and then give me the actual code that im breaking.................

After a lot of thought, im going to try and fight this! There is no reason that I shouldnt be allowed to do my hobby in my garage if I am not harming anyone, nor leaving the neighborhood unsitely!

fawk that your house your rules, i like the "not repairing...upgrading apporach" that i think matts brought up, id go for the technicalities

yeah al thats a good idea there trying to screw him on the technicalities so he should fight them on the same charesteristics.

I like the idea of welding some broken parts together in some arty way and tell them that you are an artist and use your tools for making art, not auto repair.

Originally posted by JohnnyJ
I like the idea of welding some broken parts together in some arty way and tell them that you are an artist and use your tools for making art, not auto repair.


Looks like that´s what he´s doing anyways, so it´s not like it´d be a lie.........:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by RudeZuk
But the lady's name is Candy from the Elk Grove office. She told me I was violating a zoning code...................She is supposed to stop by tomorrow and take another look

I think you should give her something to think about. Maybe sex her up with a little of your own violation to avoid citation :flipoff2:

Originally posted by RudeZuk


But the lady's name is Candy from the Elk Grove office. She told me I was violating a zoning code...................She is supposed to stop by tomorrow and take another look, and then give me the actual code that im breaking.................

After a lot of thought, im going to try and fight this!


maybe it is just me but if i was fighting this i wouldn't be letting anyone look around without a warrant!!!

i don't think they have a right to inspect the premises.....or did somebody impose martial law while i wasn't looking???

burn his house down the next time he goes on vacation.

Shane:

Sorry to hear that this is happening...BTDT. My old neighbor remodeled his house, a crew of 7 for 1.5 years plenty of noise, we never said anything other than "looking good", then I started samyota and it was bitch bitch bitch.

I went and talked to her and her response was ours (noise) was necessary, yours is discretionary...I pointed out that her jacking her house off of the ground so they could add central vac, and AC (in an area where its 75) seemed discretionary to me. She got the point and left me alone after that.

We at least had one of the nicest looking houses on the street, so if the cops ever came it looked like Marthat Stewart not Bubba and CO.

I've fequently been the outsider in potentially bitchy neighborhoods, but I always distribute surplus abalone or smoked salmon around the hood, spot weld a coulpe of iron planters for the ladies and... BAM...pretty soon I' m the nice boy with the funny car. I think keeping it tidy and killing them with kindness is your best defense, cause legally your screwed!

Good luck!

Sean

Originally posted by scwafish
Shane:

Sorry to hear that this is happening...BTDT. My old neighbor remodeled his house, a crew of 7 for 1.5 years plenty of noise, we never said anything other than "looking good", then I started samyota and it was bitch bitch bitch.

I went and talked to her and her response was ours (noise) was necessary, yours is discretionary...I pointed out that her jacking her house off of the ground so they could add central vac, and AC (in an area where its 75) seemed discretionary to me. She got the point and left me alone after that.

We at least had one of the nicest looking houses on the street, so if the cops ever came it looked like Marthat Stewart not Bubba and CO.

I've fequently been the outsider in potentially bitchy neighborhoods, but I always distribute surplus abalone or smoked salmon around the hood, spot weld a coulpe of iron planters for the ladies and... BAM...pretty soon I' m the nice boy with the funny car. I think keeping it tidy and killing them with kindness is your best defense, cause legally your screwed!

Good luck!

Sean

Thats the thing sean.............All of my immediate neighbors like me....

Wierd. I live in Sac county and have never had a problem. My neighbors are cool as hell though. I think that's the key. Also, I live in an old area, no sidewalks or streetlights. This thread is another reason why you wont catch me in one of those quaint little new tracts of houses where all the neighbors have get togethers and it's like a little village. Screw that. Leave me alone. I enjoy running my air tools and grinders till 1am too much!

Originally posted by Sundowner
burn his house down the next time he goes on vacation.

Why wait till vacation? :confused: Never put off till tomorrow what you could do tonight...

I have been fighting this same situation for almost 40 years. There are only two people in the entire neighborhood who have been there longer than my family. The immediate neighbors have known me since I was a little boy and thankfully overlook most of the things they know about me:-)!

The community not only has the right to enter the curtilage of your property to investigate complaints, they can even enter your house without a warrant to look for threats of imminent danger to the community (had a plumber who I wouldn't hire tell the county health department I had hot and cold running sewage in the basement of my rental house-the health department told me I was Permitted to be present when they entered!).

You may not conduct activities in your garage that the city considers to be inappropariate for the area-think about it, you can't smoke dope in your house! I have been told I couldn't own metal working machinery as it was not common to find such things in residences!

In my town, they will tag a vehicle that has been complained about and if you don't either remove it from the property or demonstrate it as being operational, they will confiscate the vehicle and fine you for the privilege-one of my neighbors' son's cars was confiscated because he moved it everyday and drove it every day-he just didn't demonstrate it as such. When his parents called to complain, the car had already been crushed!

Now, go back and read the previous paragraph. Doesn't it sound as though you are guilty until proven innocent? Damn straight. It has taken threats of federal court to stop them from ticketing my camouflage flat-bed truck for a third time (I even crashed it once on the way to demonstrate operational status).

Even folks who live in areas zoned agricultural can face the same issues as the only activities that are allowed there are those directly related to agricultural production.

As for the Roundup suggestions, I didn't even do it and damned near was arrested for destroying a yard WAY down the block and back in the subdivision. The only reason I wasn't arrested was because the guy whose lawn had been destroyed didn't hire professional landscapers and the prosecutor said it was unfortunate, but he hadn't suffered a real loss. If, however, you are caught doing such things, it can be a felony. If you do it with something like oil or diesel fuel, you can be cited for dumping, or environmental violations!

Keep fighting the good fight!

Paul

Maybe just go talk with this guy and tell him you realize its been busier than normal, but that its almost done, and BTW let me fix that Yugo for yeah...

Well, I just moved into a community with some lame CC&Rs. The first one I saw was one stating a person can't work on his own car inside his own garage. I hope my neighbors are cool when the new compressor comes home and the air tools start screamin'. My rig is up in Cameron Park (the nicest part) at a my friends house all torn apart and we have worked until at least 10pm a few nights the last couple weeks, and not a word has been said. This dorkhead in just the squeaky wheel. Don’t do any work for a few weeks then when all is nice and happy, ROUND-UP.

Rudezuk, do not let her look around your property. I have been going though this shit for 4 years now and have never been fined. Because my neighbor could not get me on anything with the city he sued me, we are now 2.5 years into the lawsuit and it looks like I am gonna win! We are now talking about a settlement which includes letting him live next door for $50,000! Although I may settle for less to get it over with. If you need any help fighting off the city, let me know. I hate this shit and have been to 3 hearings now with the city.

Ryan

You Cali boys should just give in and move to Nevada. From what I hear you can still bury people in the desert and no one will ever know the difference. That way you can solve your problems and still get to your favorite wheeling spots.

Originally posted by RudeZuk


Thats the thing sean.............All of my immediate neighbors like me....

See if your near-by neighbors will sign a letter stating they have no issues with your activities, you never work past 8, keep your property clean etc. At least have a little ammo ready for the city.

Joe

Originally posted by jdjanda
See if your near-by neighbors will sign a letter stating they have no issues with your activities, you never work past 8, keep your property clean etc. At least have a little ammo ready for the city.

Joe

This is an excellent idea, if he wants to play dirty then fight back. First you need to find out what kind of contacts this person has before the threats fly. No need to start a losing battle ya know! Get as many of your neighbors to sign the petition, explain to them about his harassment. Then take the signatures to him and threaten him with a harassment lawsuit if he does not stop turning you in. You can point to the list and say these are the first x number of people my attorney will be calling to the stand at witnesses. Maybe he will just stop.

Don't get me wrong. Blowing up his house or destroying his yard would be fun, but it may just give him more reason to bother you.

Never ever buy or move into a house that in a CC&Rs zone!

hey Shane, was thinking about your situation last night and a thought came to me that the guy who is complaining about you isn't complaining about the tools/work/noise going on but is really complaining that you have alot of cars/trucks/friends over to help with the project.

Which upsets him cause it's unsightly for the neighborhood to have all those cars/trucks over at your house which means that you have friends and he likely does not. which I'd imagine is getting at the REAL root of his issue.

- jack

Originally posted by morpheus
hey Shane, was thinking about your situation last night and a thought came to me that the guy who is complaining about you isn't complaining about the tools/work/noise going on but is really complaining that you have alot of cars/trucks/friends over to help with the project.

Which upsets him cause it's unsightly for the neighborhood to have all those cars/trucks over at your house which means that you have friends and he likely does not. which I'd imagine is getting at the REAL root of his issue.

- jack

I think you hit the nail on the head there!!!

Originally posted by jdjanda


See if your near-by neighbors will sign a letter stating they have no issues with your activities, you never work past 8, keep your property clean etc. At least have a little ammo ready for the city.

Joe

This is already in the process.....Actually having one of my neighbors draw it up and have the other neighbors sign it!

Everyone else is cool with me.......I always tell them that if im too loud or anything else, just let me know.....

The only request that i have had is to not park in front of one of there houses.....And we dont!!

IM in the same situation, although i dunno which neighbor it is :mad:

i also plan on doing the signature thing too...

Originally posted by RudeZuk


This is already in the process.....Actually having one of my neighbors draw it up and have the other neighbors sign it!

Everyone else is cool with me.......I always tell them that if im too loud or anything else, just let me know.....

The only request that i have had is to not park in front of one of there houses.....And we dont!!

Shane -

Here are some links that I got from the EG Planning folks a while back

Direct link to codes in question (301-04, 301-05, 301-06)
http://www.egplanning.org/zoning_code/title_3.html#chapter_01

The whole thing, TOC, etc can be found at http://www.egplanning.org/zoning_code.html

The email contact for the EG Planning/Enforcement is

Yvonne Yeager: yyeager@elkgrovecity.org

Welcome to the wonderful world of Zoning. In Sacramento County, the rules are online at: http://www.saccounty.net/planning/zc/toc.html You may also have more restrictive (never more lax) rules at your city level, and even more restrictive rules if your subdivision uses CC&Rs, and it is your responsibility to know them and abide by them, much the way that it is your responsibility to obey state and federal laws, even when they're not posted as you enter a new state.

scwafish and PTSchram have this absolutely right: get past what everyone thinks is 'fair' and look at the code (quoted above and online). You don't really have a legal leg to stand on, and the county WILL have its way with you. You may feel justified pissing into the wind that is county code enforcement, but you're still gonna have piss all over you. BTDT. It is possible to win in the long run (congrats, RealJeep Man!) but it will be a l--o--n--g run, and most folks don't have the energy to fight it, or the willingness to wait it out.

I can tell you what works for me: I initiated somewhat of a partnership with my enforcement officer (I have mine on speed dial) -- they only come out when there is a complaint, and if you work with them, they won't fine you unless you fail to improve the situation. I'll take all the warnings they want to hand out, and the two weeks that they give you to change it... then I move some stuff outside to rough it up, take a 'before' picture, move it all back inside and clean a little extra, then take an 'after' picture. That and cooperating with the enforcement officer has kept me in good shape for the year-and-a-half that I've had to deal with this. I admit to nothing, but request a specific listing of change requests, then I execute on at least a few of those list items -- and it works. My neighborhood busybody has been to Board of Supervisor meetings and even written his senator to get me to change, but I calmly continue, documenting cleanups when warned by the county. I don't even get mad about it anymore -- it wastes my time.

I think keeping it tidy and killing them with kindness is your best defense, cause legally your screwed!
Agreed. All the bullshit revenge ideas posted above might make you feel good for the short-term, but could really blow up in your face if you get caught, or if the neighborhood busybody decides to get REALLY serious. Sugar it up when you talk to the neighbors -- it will pay off in the long run.

Randii

I'm not sure this applies here since we're talking about county code, but if you moved into a subdivision with CC&Rs, you're fawked... and you did it to yourself!

I do not understand when people move into a shiny new subdivision and fail to read the CC&Rs that keep it so shiny and new, then complain about them. :rolleyes: You can't have it both ways, and you should have read the fine print.

Originally posted by randii
I'm not sure this applies here since we're talking about county code, but if you moved into a subdivision with CC&Rs, you're fawked... and you did it to yourself!

I do not understand when people move into a shiny new subdivision and fail to read the CC&Rs that keep it so shiny and new, then complain about them. :rolleyes: You can't have it both ways, and you should have read the fine print.

Not all the time. My last house was in a rural subdivision and after 5 years was annexed. Still pretty new IMO. Then the book was thrown at everyone. I got tired of the BS and fighting and left. And I work for the 3rd largest law firm in the city! :mad:

It was so much easier to rent a 20x40 shop and do everything there. No mess at home, I can make as much noise as I want whenever I want. Well worth the $425 a month. :)

Matt:
We just had a front page article in the newspaper about a fellow who restores Corvairs. When he was annexed, the city came out and told him he could no longer have his enclosed trailer at his home. When his neighbor's camper was pointed out to the Neighborhood Nazi, they told him that was permitted, but his enclosed trailer was not.

Randii, you are fortunate indeed. When the Nazis show up at my house, all they can do is scream at me and throw tickets at me. When my lawyer called Neighborhood Code Enforcement, they would hang up as soon as he told them who he was representing-and, he's a partner at the biggest and baddeest law firm in town, his best friend is city attorney even!

The best part, if you decide to appeal, the cost for the hearing is $500 and even if you win, the city keeps $50 for administrative fees. I wrote a letter to the editor about it and got many supportive phone calls, but the city still does it in spite of the illegality of it-think about it, if you get arrested for Rape and go to trial, they don't charge you $50 if you are acquitted.

All of the petitions in the world will not help you a bit the law reigns supreme. I have had petitions against my selling my house for commercial purposes signed by people who live ont he other side of town-the city doesn't care. The only reason my neighborhood association even exists is to keep me from selling for commercial purposes.

The worst thing though is the fact that they assign liens to properties and the liens do not even have to be applied to the property that was found to be in alleged violation! I found this out at the last minute during a real estate transaction. Yes, I had to pay the lien to get the property.

The Neighborhood Nazis cost me almost what I paid for my rental in improvements they demanded that I was unable to argue. They will not take anything but their word, in spite of what you can offer to dispute. I even went so far as to have a structural PE look at my roof and certify that it was in compliance with minimum building standards and they still fined me for having a substandard roof.

You ain't gonna win this one boys, rent shop space if you must.

Peace,
Paul

Just plant a mary-jane plant in his yard and call the cops... It's all for the good.. gotta sacrifice sometimes.

I say get the petition signed and do your best to put up the good fight. Don't jack with the pricks yard, this thread could cause you trouble if anyone decided to fix him up. Have this thread deleted.

It is a crying shame that in the privacy of YOUR own gawdamned home you are no longer allowed to do as you please!

Tree Hugging, liberal, narcissistic assholes with nothing better to do than give you grief...

Shane, move to the country bro!!

Originally posted by Hank
I

Tree Hugging, liberal, narcissistic assholes with nothing better to do than give you grief...

Shane, move to the country bro!!


I TOTALLY AREE,

BUT, WHAT WOULD WE DO FOR WORK? HOW WOULD WE SUPPORT OUR ADICTIONS?

Originally posted by bigdude


I think you should give her something to think about. Maybe sex her up with a little of your own violation to avoid citation :flipoff2:

BAHAHAHAHA unless shes FUGLY....even then, maybe you could take one for the team!!

This got me looking through the Ventura County zoning ordinances. Couldn't really find anything that applied to auto repair.
City of Thousand Oaks has it listed under "Nuisance" - basically, I can't repair an automobile while in my driveway or yard or within view of 5 feet of my house. The exception to this is that I can work on it between the hours of 7 AM - 9 PM and the repairs have to be completed within 4 hours (didn't know that). I guess this means I can do anything I want in my garage with the door shut. Better go butter up the new guy across the street - and no, I'm not taking one for the team!

PTSchram posted a good avoidance measure for trailers and one-ton truck and such (no kidding, those are illegal in many places). License them as an RV. I have an acquaintence in a toney suburb near St. Louis that bought a 100-dollar slide-in camper and parks his one-ton flatbed under it in the sideyard. The one-ton alone was illegal, the camper makes it an RV, and the county quit bugging him. He had to move the gate in his fence, but he now parks that truck and fugly camper right outside the bedroom window of the neighbor who reported him.

Randii, you are fortunate indeed.
I don't feel fortunate. :( It sucks having to be this active with dealing with the county, but by making nice with the enforcement guy and his boss, I have minimized the discomfort. Still pisses me right off, tho... I just direct that where it is deserved (the neighbor, not the county stiff who is just doing his job).

All of the petitions in the world will not help you a bit the law reigns supreme.
I hate it, but in this case, I agree. My counsel: find a way to work within the system. Once they understand that your are working to improve things, odds are that they will start seeing the complainer as the bad guy. Trust me, this is a lot less painless than fighting the county.

Best of luck,

Randii

An unrelenting opponent will beat you down, these "ultra-green" types are never reasonable.

The law is in their favor (to harass you) but the warnings and demands to clean up (fix-it citations) are as far as they can go, if you comply within the grace period. The suggestion to take photos of the clean up (the citation mediation) work is a "must do" to keep you out of trouble (and a digital photo is not admissible in court -- buy a throw away film camera if need be, and save the negatives).

I have not read a section that imperils a multiple citation holder with legal or civil actions. (anyone?) Address the action required of the citation (treat it like the fix-it ticket it is) and move on with life.

Ask for the exact complaint, and exact issues that must be addressed (physical or claimed procedural violations to the code). If you can, isolate the investigation to reading you the complaint and then a brief discussion agreeing to comply with the exact listed complaint. It is easier being agreeable, without giving them a tour of the property (simply shut up and let them hand you the citation).

Be polite, if they get aggressive and demand a tour the property, be ignorant (plausible deniability). If pressed you might try letting them know the thing in the garage is a "toy" ... (how close to the truth can you be). Do not admit to any activity or usage identified in the code.

Be careful to refer to the "toy" (if positively identified as the object of ire -- with photographic proof) as a passion related to a hobby (there is no mention of restrictions to a hobby in the code, only occupations and "special uses"). Make sure they know the "toy" is not for sale (you are not running a business, you do not do automotive repairs on the toy).

BTW, limit reactive activity to legal avenues (the best being anonymous tips of violations at the complainant's residence). The only case you might win in this arena is a civil harassment lawsuit, and you have to prove the accusations are unwarranted (very difficult).

Keep the doors shut when enjoying your hobby.

Find a few friends and rent a small shop in a Commercial Zone (what we did to escape the sticky-beak neighbors).

Will you post a report of the meeting (more than a few people are interested)?

Happy Trails!

I just moved into a commercial shop for the same reason. All neighbors were cool but one. Probably not a viable option for you though.

I have nothing to add but disbelief......
You could BUILD and CONSTRUCT an entirely new house. Jackhammers, saws, Cement mixers, sod truck, on and so forth, but you cant repair your own car inside with the door closed ???? Can you FAwK in your garage ? I:crybaby:

personally, i would tell them to suck it. you have 2 weeks to comply. Until that 2 weeks is up, you can't get in trouble, fawk em.

Oh ya, I would recommend getting the air hammer out thursday night from some of that REPAIR work :D

oh ya, check on the search warrent thing. if you can get away with it, don't let them look around without one. Nothing frys my ass more then to see our rights get ripped away over enforcing bullshit.

Originally posted by randii
PTSchram posted a good avoidance measure for trailers and one-ton truck and such (no kidding, those are illegal in many places). License them as an RV. I have an acquaintence in a toney suburb near St. Louis that bought a 100-dollar slide-in camper and parks his one-ton flatbed under it in the sideyard. The one-ton alone was illegal, the camper makes it an RV, and the county quit bugging him. He had to move the gate in his fence, but he now parks that truck and fugly camper right outside the bedroom window of the neighbor who reported him.

Randii, you are fortunate indeed.
I don't feel fortunate. :( It sucks having to be this active with dealing with the county, but by making nice with the enforcement guy and his boss, I have minimized the discomfort. Still pisses me right off, tho... I just direct that where it is deserved (the neighbor, not the county stiff who is just doing his job).

All of the petitions in the world will not help you a bit the law reigns supreme.
I hate it, but in this case, I agree. My counsel: find a way to work within the system. Once they understand that your are working to improve things, odds are that they will start seeing the complainer as the bad guy. Trust me, this is a lot less painless than fighting the county.

Best of luck,

Randii

You all need to pick better places to live!!! 1-ton trucks illegal? Around here, as long as it isn't up on blocks in your front yard, you won't have any problems. There are some planned communities that might have reg's similar to these, but not from the city. I can see outside even, but in your garage?

This has given me some new things to check the next time I move!

I'll stick my neck out here. I'm a city planner :)

It seems that the bulk of the rediculous codes quoted here are in California. That's not to say that every area of the country doesn't have there own PIA ordinances....but the west coast is known to be a little "radical".

To say you can't do metal fabrication, for yourself, in your garage, is assinine. The main points have been hit: no noise after a reasonable hour, no scrap/junk in the drive, all out door storage is NOT visible to the public (big one), etc.

If the codes are that rediculous, go to the city council and present a well thought out presentation of the facts. Squeeky wheel..yadda, yadda

Basically..join 'em. Play the city/county game and show them how you "are not the bad guy". Show them that you do not care to be the bad guy and you'll do your part to keep the peace. Good intentions go far with these organizations.

If it's a result of protective covenants for the subdivision....you're likely out of luck......although we can't enforce covenants here..it's a private legal matter (thank God). We have a few subdivisions that prohibit sheds and doghouses....huh? Why? Other that prohibit leaving your garage door open for more than four hours....WTF?

Generally most code enforcement types don't want to screw with this stuff...they simply have to if some idiot complains. If you have some little Nazi bastard enforcer.....knock him out and move east to a nice blue collar neighborhood.....the people are usually nicer too......................

heres an idea.....theres alot of PBB members here in sac. why don't we inundate the county with complaints of code violations. so many that they can't see shane for the forest:D .

IN AZ THE NEW TRACKS ARE COMING UP EVERY WHERE AND SO ARE THE CALI LAWS . AN OLD CLASS MATE OF MINE WAS TOLD HE COULD NOT PARK OUT SIDE HIS GARAGE IT HAD TO BE INSIDE IF HE WAS HOME. HE HAD A DODGE DUALLY 4X4 AND IT DID NOT FIT . THEY MADE HIM PARK OUTSIDE HIS COMUNITY ! AND THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS NO REAL WAY TO FIGHT THEM THEY ARE THERE OWN GOVERNING BODY THEY CAN ADD TO CITY LAWS BUT THEY CAN'T TAKE THEM AWAY. I OWNED MY OWN BIKE SHOP SO NATURALLY A LOT OF BIKES PULLED IN AND OUT . THE COPS COME AND GO . THEY WILL PUT A LIEN ON YOUR HOUSE IF YOU REFUSE TO PAY THIER CITATION SO YOU CAN NEVER SELL IT TILL IT IS PAID HERE. IT REALLY IS NAZI KIND OF CRAP.THE BIKES ARE LEGAL AND THEY ARE NOT REVVING OR NOTHING JUST PARKED OUT SIDE IN MY DRIVEWAY. HELL I WAS EVEN TOLD I COULD NOT HAVE BBQ IN MY BACK YARD CAUSE MY NEIGHBOR COULD SEE ME . I ASKED HIM IF HE SAW ME SMACKING HIS OLD LADIES ASS ? AND HE GOT SO MAD HE TURNED RED AND COULDN'T TALK ...LATER I FOUND OUT HIS OLD LADY WAS MESSING AROUND...ALOT AND TOOK HIM FOR A RIDE AND SHE GOT THE HOUSE! PROBLEM WAS SOLVED . BUT THEY CAN RUIN YOUR CREDIT AND YOUR PROPERTY .BUT IF THEY TRY TO COME IN MY HOUSE ... I THOUGHT HE WAS A BURGLAR AND I WAS PROTECTING MY FAMILY BECAUSE WITHOUT A WARRANT THEY WILL GET MY LAW.

Fix it, are you sentencing us all to CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ?:D

I looked through our CC&Rs for our"master planned community", not master race, here in the city of Sacramento. I am told that after they expire, the City law takes over. Suprisingly enough, they are not as stringent as the County Code shown linked here. I can't park in the driveway or on the street more than 72 hours. Cant disturb the neighbors, or work on the car IN THE DRIVEWAY, except to wash it, etc. But they do enforce here. They NEVER enforced when I lived in Sacramento County. So, you are a victum of selective enforcement. That said, if we don't have the CC&Rs enforced, someone will pull up a trailer on the street, plug it in and move in, with the electrical cord crossing the sidewalk. :mad:

Very interesting read...you have all convinced me of WHY I won't EVER live in Cali...or most any other densly populated area. You also are all better men than me. No question I would not do well under your forced living conditions.

I was in Fla once years ago Driving my Bronco. In those days it was still a DD but was rather ugly admitedly. My family and I stayed at a friends house in Coral Springs...the HOA wrote me a citation and a note saying I had to move my truck to a "special" parking area 6 miles North. I was totally at a loss as to HOW they could be upset that I was parked there as I was visiting. My friend explained to me that I better comply or they would have it towed the following morning. My slant was last I checked this was the USA and I had the right to drive what I wanted...and I was doing just that and visiting a friend...now I am being told I can't see a friend becauses of what I drive? I was NOT happy.

The following morning I woke up to my Son telling me sumone was stealing my Bronco...I get outside in my Boxers and there is a crowd of neighbours watching as a tow truck operator attempted to hook it up. I explained to the tow truck guy I meant him no harm as I understood he was doing his job but that he best leave it alone or him and I would not get along. As this discussion was being had my friends husband had called the police...to make a long story short they arrived in time to see the tow truck operator who thought he didn't have to show me any official documentation regrading the towing of my truck crawl back into his tow truck after making an attempt to get in MY truck and tie off the steering wheel.....at which point he slipped and fell 8 or 10 times his face always strikeing my knee while I made an attempt to catch him via his hair.

No arrest was made when after my oldest son pointed out the piss stain on the tow truck drivers pants he drove off. After a lecture on "your not on the farm now" the police left..the following morning I had ANOTHER ticket on the truck.....I pinned it to the front door of the HOA's head honcho along with a reciept for Cheese Curds and 9MM shells... never heard another word.

NoRM
who will stay on the farm

I was just welding and grinding and hammering out in my driveway last night till 10:30. God I love living in the hills. ;)

Originally posted by P|n-BaLL
at which point he slipped and fell 8 or 10 times his face always strikeing my knee while I made an attempt to catch him via his hair.

No arrest was made when after my oldest son pointed out the piss stain on the tow truck drivers pants he drove off. After a lecture on "your not on the farm now" the police left..the following morning I had ANOTHER ticket on the truck.....I pinned it to the front door of the HOA's head honcho along with a reciept for Cheese Curds and 9MM shells... never heard another word.

NoRM
who will stay on the farm

Please send windex so I can clean milk from monitor that came thru my nose! That was funny.

In the last six months I have had the tranny/TC out three times, front axle out, rear axle out, new engine. Jeep has been on Jack Stands for up to two weeks. So far I have been lucky and my neighbors haven;t said anything, but one of them said to my wife that somebody was taking an interest in my "project." I put everything away at night and try to make the heep presentable even if it is up on jack stands. I know my days are numbered and I am planning to move to Placer or Eldorado county.

SeanP

So, you are a victum of selective enforcement.
Selective enforcement? Dunno. They enforce according to the complaints they receive. No more, no less.

That said, if we don't have the CC&Rs enforced, someone will pull up a trailer on the street, plug it in and move in, with the electrical cord crossing the sidewalk.
Funny thing? That actually happened up the street from us, and the county enforcement guy drove right past that obvious offense, right past the car parked alongside the driveway on what the county would describe as an 'unimproved surface,' and even past the obvious home improvement with no permit (out of his jurisdiction, but C'MON!) ... to leave me a warning.

I asked, and he said that they ONLY respond to ?blatant violations? or complaints. Unlike parking enforcement, they don't casually patrol the area.

Randii

Randy, sic the squirrels on em'......:D

Originally posted by Ed A. Stevens

The suggestion to take photos is a "must do" to keep you out of trouble

imperils a multiple citation holder with legal or civil actions.


physical or claimed procedural violations to the code.

isolate the investigation

agree to comply

It is easier being agreeable

simply shut up and let them hang you


Be polite

be ignorant

Do not admit to any activity or usage identified in the code.

Be careful

limit activity to anonymous tips of violations at the complainant's residence.

Keep the doors shut when enjoying your hobby.

Find a few friends and rent a small shop in the Twilight Zone

report the meetings

Happy Trails Comrade!


:eek: granted I fawked with the quote a bit,;) but holy shit. If you just sit back and read this, it sounds like something from a science fiction "Big Brother" type book. My Gawd! It's friggin terrifying......:( AMERIKA

growing up at my Dad's we could fire our GUNS all day long and get no complaints. In Canada!

what has gone wrong?:( :( :(

Thats California for ya.
Lived there for 17 yrs, the whole friggin place is a covenant community.
Colorado is gettin that way too, remember to vote people.
Jerry

Man do I feel your pain. I live in an unincorporated area of my county. I put up a privacy fence along a county-maintained road. Then somebody complained to the county that it's too high. I didn't even know about the complaint until I went through normal channels and tried to be a good-guy by getting a permit for some electrical work I wanted done. Now I've got to get my roof redone and they want to fight that permit too.

I think it'll all get resolved but I still have the b*tch (my wife and I are ~95% sure that's who complained in the first place) next door that started it all. It's weird too cause when we moved in, and for the first coupla years she was cool. Then one day she started complaining about one thing or another. Now that I've talked to other neighbors it looks like she's the neighborbood busy-body. Stays home all day w/ the kids and has nothing better to do than cause trouble.

We've tried again being nice, she even appologized "for a misundestanding, it's all my fault" were her words. We'll see. Hope all goes well for you.

Originally posted by Disco


Bleach works really good also, plus, it's a hellava lot cheaper. :D:D:D


something else fun is Frosted Flakes...they get all soggy in the morning from the dew and then the sugar gets spread out everywhere when the person tries to water them in aftert discovering that there's no possible way to rake up wet Frosted Flakes :D


or just piss in their yard in the same spot late at night so it looks like their yard has brown spot

Shane, I just met Rob and Dave yesterday on the 'Con. I live by the Chevron on Elk Grove and Big Horn and am ready to do battle in your favor. I will take whatever I learn from your ordeal and hopefully not have the same trouble. Because we don't have too much grass in our yards and I cant write "Dick Head" small enough. I will deffinately be meeting you soon enough. Later. By the way thanks Rob and Dave, you guy's stoked me on living in the one Elk town we call home.

Russ

cool another elk grove guy:D :D

all i can say is that i am glad that i dont live on the street and that my driveway/house/garage are set back from the street. my neoghbor is the same (set back house) and he is a car fanatic too. so nobody can see what is going on.:flipoff2:

Originally posted by UZI 9mm

:eek: granted I fawked with the quote a bit,;) but holy shit. If you just sit back and read this, it sounds like something from a science fiction "Big Brother" type book. My Gawd! It's friggin terrifying......:( AMERIKA

growing up at my Dad's we could fire our GUNS all day long and get no complaints. In Canada!

what has gone wrong?:( :( :(

Gone Wrong?

I grew up in a California where we could walk outside between TV commercial breaks and target rabbit or coyote in the yard, legally. I also rode an MX bike to school, and recruited to take my rifle to school to keep the rodent population on the school farm in line (without environmentally incorrect pesticide). We worked on our vehicles outside in summer, and inside in winter, and tested them on the street in front of the house (before taking them to the track).

The state has changed. What went wrong is that normal citizens allowed a demand for a few reasonable code requlations get hijacked to please the do-gooders with an agenda (we all wanted regulation intended to limit the trash and eyesores of the few excessive individuals, but it did not stop). The ignorant masses failed to believe the few folks who sounded the alarm, that the prohibitions were becomming opressive, and they lost rights.

Guess what? This agenda (to exploit a need for reasonable common sense regulations) is reaching far and wide, and it has a goal to implement oppressive regulation in the name of reasonable progress.

Regulation of the off-road and motorized recreation opportunities we enjoy are on the priority hit list. When you ask for a prohibition on fools and idiots running trails make sure you target the intended offenders (not simply the vehicles the F&I's drive, or the shops where they work).

You see, the current Demokratic Party vision in California has an agenda to expand the reach of government (along with favors to return) and motorized recreation is not an approved working class obsession (for work or play: two legs good, four wheels bad). California has $40-billion in debt, and closing all support for motorized recreation (financial and regulatory) will wipe the slate clean to advance the Wildlands/Legacy Project.

Thanks for the laugh (close to home).

Happy Trails!

every neighorhood has at least one dickhead!!I would consult with an lawyer about this.Normally when you get a lawyer in the picture these people will back off.It just sucks when assholes try to tell you what you can and cant do on your own property.

I haven't had problems in my parents area. and its pretty strict, by the book wise, regarding what you can/can't do. only simple stuff... like an oil change is allowed. I think even brake changes are "illegal". BUT... everyone knows this, and no one complains.

I don't make noise after 8pm, don't start it until after 9am on weekdays, 10 or 11am on Weekends. I make sure its clean when I finsih for the day, or at least organized.

The neighbors haven't complained... even when I cut up my jeep trailer, swapped axles, and rebuilt it. They just give me funny looks. ;) (the, what is that kid up to now, looks)

There was one lady that USED to give dirty looks, but after I helped unbury her car from teh snow a few times getting off our street a few years ago. she always said "hi".

Next house though... several acres... all work will be done AWAY from other houses... just to make sure I don't have any issues.

Originally posted by Rich Vito
every neighorhood has at least one dickhead!!I would consult with an lawyer about this.Normally when you get a lawyer in the picture these people will back off.It just sucks when assholes try to tell you what you can and cant do on your own property.

Yup... the law is your friend.. Pull up the ordinances... GUARANTEED... the bitcher is breaking some of them. Its not blackmail or extortion, its called warning. "you continue this path, I will sue you for X, Y and Z, oh.. don't forget the emotional trauma"

in RP east sac, theyr cool, when i was livn' with the ol man, i did all kinds of crazy work on my truck, ZERO complaints! only from my folks - they were usually trying to sleep :D

Originally posted by SeanP


Please send windex so I can clean milk from monitor that came thru my nose! That was funny.

In the last six months I have had the tranny/TC out three times, front axle out, rear axle out, new engine. Jeep has been on Jack Stands for up to two weeks. So far I have been lucky and my neighbors haven;t said anything, but one of them said to my wife that somebody was taking an interest in my "project." I put everything away at night and try to make the heep presentable even if it is up on jack stands. I know my days are numbered and I am planning to move to Placer or Eldorado county.

SeanP

Anyone of you guys have a lawyer friend that would be willing to take this on??

RZ:
If you have $, I have a friend who loves these cases (actually, two, one is even a Rover owner), but I don't know if he's licensed in California. PM me for a phone number.


Paul

No neighborhood is complete without the "ONE" asshole, everyone has one and should the present asshole move, another one will be there to take over the "ASSHOLE" duties. No surprise to me.

WTF IS THIS SHIT???

LUCKLY I FOUND OUT MY COUSIN-INLAW IS AN ATORNEY FOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT! :flipoff2: COUNTY HERE I COME! :laughing:

http://www.towerofyouth.org/upload/wtf1.jpg

Thats crap.
Good luck...give em hell.

My neighbors don't like what I do...I'm "The guy with the Jeeps"

But when its 10 degrees, theres 3 ft of snow, the douchebag with the GMC1500 broke his tranny on his plow truck...who do they call?! ME!!

They need people like us but won't admit it.

Wait 'til a earthquake or some shit f-s up you whole town and thier little cars won't make it up the street...they'll be your best buddy to get wherever thier sorry asses want to go...

Fawkers.
Send the douche that called the county on you soem kiddie porn or something and then send a tip in to the cops!!!!
Nosey fuck.
MJ

i had heard about these neighborhood associations and county regulations , but i had no friggin idea how out of control they were. the shit y'all are describing is friggin crazy . i guess i'm fortunate to live in the boonies :D. i've got 360 acres that i call my backyard and i work on what i want , when i want , and as late as i want and no one complains except my wife when i get a new toy or parts rig , i've told her that it is my god given right to have as many rigs in my yard as i feel necessary , doesnt really work but i say it anyway :flipoff2: