I’ve got a neighbor that almost never cuts his lawn; his grass is literally knee-to-thigh height. He’s also got tree branches that hang low over the curb that take your head off if you walk or ride a bike and aren’t paying close attention. Other neighbors tried to talk to him about it but were ignored. What can we do?
Everyone can relate to the neighbor who just doesn’t care for his or her yard like the other homeowners on the block. Your neighbor, however, has taken his yard-care indifference to the extreme, which most likely violates several Austin city ordinances. For example, the city of Austin requires that grass and weeds must be fewer than 12 inches tall. Property owners are also required to trim overhanging trees so that there is at least 14 feet of clearance at the curb line.
It is usually a good idea to talk with your neighbor and try to resolve these problems informally. If you have tried that without success, your next step is to contact the city (call nonemergency 311) and report the potential violations. The city should investigate, give the property owner notice of noncompliance, and allow for a short period of time to fix the problem. If the homeowner still does not fix the problem within the allotted time, the city will cut the grass and trim back the trees and then bill the property owner for the work.
I live in an up-and-coming area, and there is an abandoned house on my street where neighborhood kids sometimes play. It has no front door and several open windows, so it’s easy to walk in and out. I’m worried something bad will happen there.
Contact the city of Austin (call nonemergency 311). Structures are considered dangerous for some of the following reasons: exposed electrical wiring, heavy fire damage, potential structural failure, and abandoned, open structures. The abandoned and open nature of the house should qualify it as a dangerous structure. In addition, the fact that kids are playing there makes the property an attractive nuisance (i.e., a dangerous condition that can attract kids and cause a risk to their safety). The property owner or, alternatively, the city should take action to close access to the structure.
This article appears in December 7 • 2007.