trouble with county taking apart appliances in my yard

Hi, I drive around town and pick up free Craig's list stuff I also advertise and people call me to pick up items. I take them home and process them Then load up my dump trailer with steel until it is full and take it to a recycle yard. I do this from my home. I have about 1 acre lot and it is dirt at the bottom where I disassemble and sort to get the copper and aluminum and stainless steel out of appliances. The county tells me I can not have a scrap metal business in a residential area. This is the 2nd warning now I have a $100.- dollar fine and it will keep going up if I do not comply. To me this is just a hobby for extra cash, I possibly earn $500 a month, probably less if I count all my expenses. So I do not think it can justify renting space to disassemble stuff. I enjoy it and really do not want to stop. I want to see if any other members have problems with neighbors calling the city or county on them and how they resolved the issue? Thanks David

Yikes. I have no knowledge of this kind of thing, but am curious what others have to say.

Maybe put up a privacy wall, or somehow hide what you do better. It's possible it's just neighbors complaining?

Yes it is neighbors complaining, possibly just one I do not know. I just put up 100' of shade fabric over my iron fence that is 6' tall. I will probably build a fence so it would be difficult to see though. I live on a hill but I am also in a little valley so 3 of my neighbor can see part of my yard even with a solid 6' fence but at least my neighbors that drive by on the easement could cot see much of my yard. Possibly working with the grinder to disassemble stuff is pissing them off.

Just some thoughts - Advertising that you will pick things up makes you seem more like a business. You are also making more a year than a hobby should. Now that you're on the city's radar, it's going to be a PITA. Believe it or not, even a lot of commercial property isn't zoned for what you're doing.

Originally Posted by ryanw

Just some thoughts - Advertising that you will pick things up makes you seem more like a business. You are also making more a year than a hobby should. Now that you're on the city's radar, it's going to be a PITA. Believe it or not, even a lot of commercial property isn't zoned for what you're doing.

ryanw I only advertise on Craig's List and with my first name and general location. I do not put advertising up on my property or on my vehicles. I also do a little plumbing I was a plumbing contractor for 10 years and plumbing for 10 plus years before that . I was hoping I was somewhat low profile, the stuff in my yard before I process it the grinder and the hammer for smashing stuff apart probably gives it away.

Originally Posted by davidarlen

Hi, I drive around town and pick up free Craig's list stuff I also advertise and people call me to pick up items. I take them home and process them Then load up my dump trailer with steel until it is full and take it to a recycle yard. I do this from my home. I have about 1 acre lot and it is dirt at the bottom where I disassemble and sort to get the copper and aluminum and stainless steel out of appliances. The county tells me I can not have a scrap metal business in a residential area. This is the 2nd warning now I have a $100.- dollar fine and it will keep going up if I do not comply. To me this is just a hobby for extra cash, I possibly earn $500 a month, probably less if I count all my expenses. So I do not think it can justify renting space to disassemble stuff. I enjoy it and really do not want to stop. I want to see if any other members have problems with neighbors calling the city or county on them and how they resolved the issue? Thanks David

That totally blows, man. In my neighborhood, 25% of the neighborhood are scrappers, lol.

that parttimescrapper that sounds wise

I have been there, except with cars.. I have an ol' lady across the street that sits in her house all day drinking wine with nothing better to do. She has called the city about a car being parked too far away from the curb (more then 15 cm / 6" from the curb), parked facing the wrong way on the street or anything else she can think of... best thing to do is keep it out of site, I now have an 8' fence surrounding the side of my house where I do all of my work now as well as a pop up garage at the side.

That sucks. Hope you get left alone, but now that you're on the radar as a potential source of revenue (fines), they make stay on you. Shame people can't mind their own business.

I think I know one of my neighbors who turned me in, she is a rich widow who thinks the neighborhood should be like an association with CC&R's she used to give me compliments, but than and always than she told me what she did not like about my property. I got fed up with her and told her to stop talking to me. She threated to turn me into the county for other stuff and I responded that I would turn her in for all of the unpermitted work she has done on her properties. She did a driveway with a block wall that because of the height requires a permit, as well as extensive remodeling on her home, I did not turn her in she did turn me in. I have also done unpermitted work on my property including a block wall. To be honest I do what I want and want to be left alone. I am not rich I am a vet on a disability pension I get by.

We all have one of those old ladies. For mine, I help her take in her groceries, help her with yard work, and be nice to her little dog. I give her my extra garden produce too. It seems to help her talk to me first about things, instead of going to the county first.

I think I would hit your local library or online resource and dig through the laws they've cited you for. The wording is often vague which works in your favor too. Often you will get something that says "Can be seen from right of way, road or property line" Which basically means if they can't see it, it isn't there. Also remember, you don't have to allow ANYONE on your property. I hate to be that way to anyone trying to do their job but, livelihoods are just that. Saying something to the effect of, your welcome to have a look around means you've just granted access to everything, even behind closed doors.

I guess what I am saying is, clean up the stuff you have in sight like PTS said already and stop letting the county on your property. And never admit to doing anything for money. It's always a "hobby". Worst case scenario, rezone your property for something similar to light commercial, a bit higher tax I'd imagine but without an housing authority of some kind, that old lady can't do anything about it.

Well I can not believe you guys think you are going to be able to do scraping in your yard and not have a problem. Truth is that how many of you would like the guy next door creating a eye sore next door when you have family and friends over for a visit? I am not against making a few extra bucks but when you start running a scrap yard out of your yard I think you are stepping over the line.So when you cut the lines on that a/c unit and the freon goes into the air and lands on my barbecue grill do you think that's ok to? Well you guys are the guys that give us legitimate business that pay rent and taxes and have employes a bad name.We on this forum should not condone what you do, rather make you aware of what you are doing is wrong and try to correct it. I know some of you will not like what I have to say but truth be told you are not paying taxes,you are contaminating the dirt and air, and lowering the property values of your home and that of your neighbors.

Originally Posted by 1956

Well I can not believe you guys think you are going to be able to do scraping in your yard and not have a problem. Truth is that how many of you would like the guy next door creating a eye sore next door when you have family and friends over for a visit? I am not against making a few extra bucks but when you start running a scrap yard out of your yard I think you are stepping over the line.So when you cut the lines on that a/c unit and the freon goes into the air and lands on my barbecue grill do you think that's ok to? Well you guys are the guys that give us legitimate business that pay rent and taxes and have employes a bad name.We on this forum should not condone what you do, rather make you aware of what you are doing is wrong and try to correct it. I know some of you will not like what I have to say but truth be told you are not paying taxes,you are contaminating the dirt and air, and lowering the property values of your home and that of your neighbors.

I not only believe i can do scraping in my front yard and not have a problem, i actually do scraping in my front yard and i have had very few problems over the years...I personally do not care what my neighbor has or does in his yard , the main two words of that sentence is HIS YARD, if my family or friends came over and they were so stuck up that my neighbors junk in there yard bothered them , i believe id tell them they could find another place to hang out, such as THEIR YARD...

If one of my neighbors had so much junk that it lowered the property values i would be very happy, i would actually thank him..I have junk piled on top of junk, and my property values actually go up all the time . actually almost every few years they raise a bit..At least when i pay my TAXES every year according to uncle sam they do..So if there is an exact limit of scrap metal that one can pile up that will cause my property value to be lowered please please let me know, because when i pay my land taxes they seem to raise all the time, no matter how much junk i pile up the government seems to raise the value a little every few years when they do the re assessment . if i could get my property value lowered id be very thankful and happy

also if i have to pay rent and pay employees to be a legitimate person then i have no desire to be legitimate..i have hauled junk to support me and my family for at least 6 months every year ever since i have been 16 years old, and sometimes when the union hall is slow i do it for more than 6 months per year...in the last 2 years i have slowly been moving over to full time 100 percent junking to support my family..i have now started my own full time business...i am doing quite well... if it keeps growing like it is i may give up my union book all together and do this full time..at least that is my plan..i enjoy hauling scrap, i actually love it..

i have junk all over my property, i don't have any fences around it at all. i am sure it looks awful to some but to me it is my lively hood..i am considerate of safety issues ,i don't leave doors on any refrigerators..i keep my oil and other flammables in barrels and stored in a locked shed, i sell them to my neighbor every year. he has a transmission shop and he uses the old oils and other fluids as fuel to heat his shop,,he said it saves him tons of money every year..so there's one neighbor who is happy i have junk piled everywhere..

I DO NOT need to be AWARE or CORRECTED of ANYTHING i DO NOT give anyone else a BAD NAME. i am honest and hard working..i put in more hours than most anyone else i know..i have learned over the years the more i put in the more i get out..I own my land and my home, i do not pay rent...yes ive got junk piled on top of junk..it may be an eye sore to some folks but i dont care about what others think of how i live...i own my little 4.7 acres and i will do what ever i darn well please with it... i always pay my taxes every year, heck i even payed on what i made on ebay this year.. and i could have got by without including my ebay earnings because it was under the limit and they did not send me a 1099..but i try to be honest so i payed my taxes anyhow...

the above post that i am replying to says ,"We on this forum should not condone what you do"...i would like to know if you are the voice of this forum...is it your place to tell people how to live..you are implying that you are speaking on behalf of the whole forum by wording your post the way you did...this really offends me..as i have been a member of this forum for a year or so and that is not my opinion at all....i am not a child i do not seek approval or acceptance from anyone...i am not causing anyone any harm at all by pilling up junk..if you dont like what you see then dont look at it..

one more thing , people need to mind there own business...if you are so fragile you are offended by the site of junk then you have serious issues and may need help...if you have so much time on your hands that you need to be concerned with whats sitting in your neighbors yard you need a hobby..if someone owns something then it is there's,not yours. you take care of your stuff and let them take care of there stuff..

i am 34 years old, i have a great woman in my life, a wonderful step daughter, 3 ankle biting dogs, a decent home,a little piece of land with junk piled all over it, . and i am very happy with my life.i will do and run anything i want on my property. i do not need to be corrected, informed, aware,condoned, educated, scolded, or even bothered about what is on my land.. also the only line around here to step over would be my property line, and i do not step over it.

basically the only thing i agree with about your above post is that, yes some of us will not like your post..and it is bad to let Freon loose into the air..

Just like you said in your post YOU HAVE NO DESIRE TO BE LEGITIMATE I can understand your point of view, the fact that you see nothing wrong with storing Flammables and oils in drums in a shed with out the proper ventilation and signage on your home site shows every one that reads your post your values. The original thread was about a scraper who was was warned twice and now has started to pay fines for running a business from his home.i was voicing my opinion and only that. I am by no means a spokesman for this forum, this forum is about learning from other more experienced in different areas. That what makes this forum so helpful and interesting.

this is why I hate neighborhoods. You mind yours, I'll mind mine. I agree and disagree with 1956. I would hate to be at it like that with my neighbors but do what you have to do. if they don't want to see it. be really tacky and build a four sided shed out of blue tarps. Which one looks better. an old stove or a makeshift shed. I hope it works out for you. Like someone said, check the wording of the ordinance.

I have to agree with 1956. There are two problems you need to address:

(1) If you are openly violating any laws, you have to find a solution that either puts you in compliance with the legal code or hides the fact that you choose to disregard certain laws (at your own risk).

(2) If you are disturbing your neighbors so much that they are reporting you, you will have no peace until you stop doing whatever it is that bothers them. I'm not talking about nonsense nitpicky complaints like parking too far from the curb; I'm talking about reasonable complaints such as persistent noise, commercial traffic, safety violations, etc. If someone stores scrap metal in their yard and it's visible and easily accessible, that could be construed as a potential danger, especially in a neighborhood with a lot of children. If your neighbors say it's an eyesore, then it is, and of course there's also the risk that someone might steal it.

No matter what you do for a living or for extra income, there's always a cost of doing business, and these are part of those costs. In the long run, compliance with the law and maintaining peace with your neighbors is likely to cost you less, both in terms of money and aggravation, than choosing to disregard them.