Emergency Pandemic Fence permit advice

Submitted by Sensitive_Focus_5458 t3_115kmz4 in baltimore

During the pandemic 2020 people (groups of 10 - 20) in the abandoned lot next door used my yard as an additional hangout/drug spot and a garbage bin. Eventually this escalated after I asked them to stop and they took it personally. I had a contractor build a fence on top of the concrete wall and a door that locks for my safety.

I want to apply for a permit now and for another job but I’m afraid of getting in trouble/fined. Has anyone been in this situation who can give advice?

Do you think the city would be understanding since it was during the Pandemic and everything was on pause? Should I just take it down in case an inspector comes?

Any advice helps.

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Comments

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Matt3989 t1_j927bzj wrote

Did you build the fence? Or was it just always there and you have no idea who did it?

I wouldn't be concerned about the new permit you're applying for.

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Sensitive_Focus_5458 OP t1_j929lgy wrote

I didn’t even think of this but my only anxiety is that the house was newly bought pre pandemic and the pics online don’t have the addition. Do you think they’d look into it or am I thinking too hard?

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Matt3989 t1_j92cg7o wrote

They'd only look it up if someone complains. And then the only recourse would be that you'd have to remove it.

You're worried about nothing. Thanks for spending your own time and money to improve a problem lot.

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socatsucks t1_j92pqdp wrote

No one, I repeat, no one, who works for the government is trying to do anything more than the bare minimum AT THE MOST. Half don’t even do that. Like most things in life, if you just keep your mouth shut and play dumb, you’ll be fine.

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Sensitive_Focus_5458 OP t1_j9288jr wrote

So there’s concrete walls that came with the house but it didn’t have a door that closed. The contractor built on top of it with wood and added a door.

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danthecannibal t1_j928hjn wrote

I think you’re missing what the poster is implying

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Sensitive_Focus_5458 OP t1_j928p91 wrote

Do you think they’ll look into it???

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Queeb_the_Dweeb t1_j929n7j wrote

Only if someone else complains and calls an inspector out to your property themselves.

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gbe28 t1_j9785w1 wrote

0% chance of that happening unless someone complains repeated to zoning/permits. Even then, nearly 0% chance of anything happening.

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baltimorecalling t1_j927hrs wrote

Did the contractor build the wall or just the fence?

Fences are considered 'minor work', whereas the wall construction would be considered 'major work'.

I don't know what the penalty scale is for minor vs major, but you could contest the permit penalty if you are able to argue that the work was emergency.

https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/files/permitssurchargerulespdf That document should help.

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Sensitive_Focus_5458 OP t1_j928fs8 wrote

The concrete walls came with the house they’re 4 ft high and the door didn’t close properly. The contractor built a partition (fence) of wood on top of it and added a door to keep people out. Thank you for the link.

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baltimorecalling t1_j92cqhh wrote

That sounds like minor work to me. Maybe reach out to your city councilperson, let them know what happened, and see if there's anything that can be done that doesn't involve you getting fined.

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gizmojito t1_j94mudk wrote

Two houses on my block had new fences put up by contractors without permits. About a year later, one of the houses had a new water line installed with a permit. No one has ever cared about the fences.

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