The District of Columbia has a new way to raise revenue: “When Anderson complained to a supervisor at DPW she was told that she could lease the property from the District and avoid future tickets.”
The District of Columbia has a new way to raise revenue: “When Anderson complained to a supervisor at DPW she was told that she could lease the property from the District and avoid future tickets.”
8 Comments
Where I grew up, city property started at the edge of the sidewalk closest to the house. We were still responsible for shoveling the sidewalk when snowy and mowing the grass in the parkway between the sidewalk and the curb.
Where I live now, we have no sidewalks, but the property line is where a sidewalk would be if there was one; approximately 10 feet from the road. Village code states that the driveway must be long enough to park at least two vehicles, one in front of the other, in a single lane driveway. Not from the front of the house to the back. Where one has a garage behind the house, this isn’t an issue.
That one’s property rights would end at the edge of the building is absurd.
In many/most parts of DC, your property, as recorded on the deed, is pretty much what’s under the building. Sometimes there’s a backyard included, though not always. With very few exceptions, front yards are not your property though, as the WTOP piece notes, you are responsible for the lawns, trees, sidewalks, etc.
Trying to get the DC gov’t to pay for the removal of a diseased tree that happens to be in ‘your’ front yard is an exercise to be undertaken only by the brave or foolish.
OTOH, this set-up can work in your favor if a sewer pipe breaks outside the walls of your home… then it’s up to the gov’t to fix it. That might save a few bucks, but it does involve having to deal with the DC gov’t.
I am so glad they are finally cracking down on the hard-core DC criminals.
I would suggest that the people who live in Washington, DC should first try to get representation from their local government before they worry about getting representation from the Federal government.
Having been in title insurance in the Seattle area prior to my current career……
Typically where one ‘thinks’ their property line is with respect to the public street and where it actually is often confuses folks.
Typically, especially in new construction, the house is pushed as far forward on the lot as possible to increase the size of the rear yard. Also typically the road in front of the house (including side walk) isn’t built out to the full width of the right of way.
So, in fact, what you THINK is your front yard, often times is in fact part of the street. Add to that, that often times, again typically in new construction, that there is also a 5 to 10 foot wide utility easement parallel to the street, and well, should the powers that be decide to, pretty much ‘your’ whole front yard can be ripped up to widen the road and re-do utilities.
Sounds like this is the case, if what John above says is right.
What is stunning is the requirement that you still keep the land up. Um, how is that NOT a voilation of the 13th Amendment?
Now, if we are just talking about a duty to keep sidewalks clear, i would call it a justified infringement. but the whole yard? You have to be kidding me.
I wonder if Holmes-Norton will want to exercise part of her “exclusive jurisdiction” over the capital district.
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