To put brick pavers on yard need permission or not?

Question

Huiping S. · Answer

Appreciate every friend from BP!!

Really a pain to face this situation and was threated will be sued. I believe attorney works for money but not who is noisy. He sued few neighbors already from fences to others trees :-(

We didn't put one piece of pavers yet.

If we think will hurt him or try to put his house on flood by some pavers, we will not plan this work at all. His behavior helped me to save $ and I will use the $ for more properties. He deserves the side next to us full of weeds and junk.

I definitely will go to county to check this question and situation.

I believe smart people all like to see neighbors to improve the house condition and everyone benefit from those improvement.

Our cleaning and paving definitely touched his weak nerves and we will adjust it.

We will move to next home soon. The tenant will not take care this home like we did. Let him enjoy his new neighbor.

Feel much better when read those messages from BP community!!

Thanks again everyone!

Huiping

Steve McGovern · Answer

@Huiping Sheng, the underlying issue is that of pervosity and/or whether an area is prone to flooding.

I'll spare you the grade-school science...  but some geology accepts rain better than others.  In areas that don't accept water well, there are usually two reasons:

1) in some cases, the area is already too wet-- think flood zones, wetlands, swampy areas, areas near rivers & streams.  In these areas, "Extra water" pooling up without surface soil for the water to saturate and be held can cause a problem for yourself and/or neighbors down-grade.

2) In other areas, a certain amount of bare land (grass, soil, etc.) is required to be open to the sky for the appropriate levels of water to seep through and re-charge aquifers.  in these areas, when asphalt, buildings, etc. are laid, the valuable water becomes runoff instead of seeping into the soil and eventually becoming drinking water.  Additionally, that runoff tends to go places where people don't generally want it.  This action can become an engineering nightmare and needs to be mitigated either with drainage and swales, or with landscape architecture such as catch gardens, or rock gardens with berms that are backed by clean soil and plantings that are strategically placed to drink the run off.

The gray area is this:  DO PAVERS-- with reasonable space between them-- constitute an impervious surface?  This question, as well as the relevant gap between the pavers, etc., is going to depend on your jurisdiction.  Ask someone in your local Town/County planning  office.   The Town/County will also be able to tell you if this guy is fabricating the entire issue.

You can get around the matter this way:  Ask your Building Supply center for what are called "SEMI-PERVIOUS PAVERS".  these pavers allow water seepage, so the water will go through the pavers, instead of merely around the pavers.  They'll cost a little more, but not too much.  If you want to be a friendly neighbor around someone with this type of concern, then that's the way I'd go.

You may need to weed a little more, but semi-pervious is the middle ground between the extremes.

Good luck,

S

James Mc Ree · Answer

It looks like you might have an obsessive, neurotic neighbor.  There isn't much you can do about that.  It may get worse with tenants.  If his behavior is harassing, call the police and they can issue a "do not contact" order (PA term).  It basically means you and the neighbor don't ever talk to each other.  You have to do your part for it to work.  That's the downside of that approach - you have a neighbor you never talk to.

As to pavers, check with your municipality regarding their stormwater ordinance and if they have a regulation on laying pavers as a structure.  You might have to mitigate stormwater runoff.  The municipality will have the only say in what you have to do.  Your neighbor can always sue you, but a letter from your municipality stating that you are in compliance with zoning is all you should need assuming your neighbor cannot point to specific damage as a result of your pavers.

Mike McCarthy · Answer

There are usually rules about intentionally directing storm water into neighboring properties, but unless you're doing a HUGE area with pavers, or specifically piping or trenches towards his property, it will be hard for him to prove you're flooding his property.  There's not much you can do about the overall slopes of the area.

Long story short, he seems to just be a pita... and will continue regardless of what you do.  Be pleasant, try to help what you can - but it's your home to do what you want with.

Matthew Paul · Answer

Water flows down hill you are not going to change that , the water has been going on his property forever . It doesnt matter what a previous owner did 20 years ago , it cant be proven .  As long as there are no rules against it , you can install what you want its your property .

If the neighbor is such a pain , and he knows you are a doctor .Tell him you are going to start a halfway house for the treatment of drug addicts after you move out .

To put brick pavers on yard need permission or not?

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