The inspector walked along my neighbor\u2019s side yard, then stopped beside the large wooden shed she had installed only weeks earlier.<\/p>\n
He measured from the structure to the property line.<\/p>\n
Then he measured again.<\/p>\n
My neighbor\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
The inspector looked at his notes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis shed is inside the required setback.\u201d<\/p>\n
She immediately protested.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s on my property.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of it may not be.\u201d<\/p>\n
That changed everything.<\/p>\n
A survey marker near the back corner showed that one side of the shed extended across the boundary by several inches, while the concrete pad beneath it also violated the city\u2019s setback requirements.<\/p>\n
The inspector explained that she would need to provide a current survey and permits.<\/p>\n
She had neither.<\/p>\n
Then he noticed the electrical line running to the shed.<\/p>\n
That installation had not been permitted either.<\/p>\n
Her eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted his fence checked.\u201d<\/p>\n
The inspector remained calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd his fence passed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within days, she received formal notices requiring her to correct the violations.<\/p>\n
The shed eventually had to be moved, the electrical work inspected, and part of the concrete removed.<\/p>\n
I never celebrated in front of her.<\/p>\n
I did not need to.<\/p>\n
For weeks, she had treated city regulations like a weapon she could point at everyone else.<\/p>\n
Then one inspection reminded her of something very simple.<\/p>\n
Rules really were rules.<\/p>\n
They just applied on both sides of the fence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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