Homeowner gets cited over own driveway, then learns neighbors made up an easement

One homeowner said that after a week away from home, they returned to find a code-enforcement notice directing them to keep the back half of their own driveway clear.

The situation became even more aggravating when they learned the issue appeared to trace back to neighbors who had allegedly told the utility company and the city permitting office that an easement was in place for electrical work.

Here's what to know

In a Reddit post on the site's r/MildlyInfuriating forum, the homeowner said the dispute began after their neighbors, whose house sits directly on the property line, had electrical work completed.

According to the original poster, this neighbor had misrepresented to both the utility and city permit office that they had granted an easement. The OP added that the setup created a problem because a wood pile and car in the driveway blocked the required abatement, prompting the neighbors to call code enforcement.

OP said they connected the dots between the agencies, writing that the electric inspector had "been on their case for weeks," while the inspector and code-enforcement officer "were completely unaware of each other's involvement."

In a comment, the OP later said the city, utility companies, and title companies had all confirmed that no easement exists and that "the permit for the original work has been revoked."

The homeowner said the neighbors will have to redo the electrical work and move the exterior portion to another side of the house where the legally required abatement for utility work exists.

More background

In the comments, the poster said their partner has spent three decades working on city and county permits and has a special interest in property-line disputes, while the homeowner is an attorney.

"We are the type that read contracts before signing," they wrote.

One commenter warned, "Selling your home in the future can be a serious issue if there's an easement listed on the property."

A separate commenter who identified themselves as a surveyor advised the homeowner to "double check your title report," noting that older properties can sometimes involve complicated access claims.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.