Neighbor put heavy construction equipment on my driveway without asking
When a spouse grants permission without discussing liability, heavy machinery can crack or ruin the driveway, leaving you with the repair costs. Without a prior agreement, it forces homeowners to deal with unaddressed property damage, mess, and unpermitted work they never agreed to host.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Checking contractor licensing and insuranceDid this help you?
- 2Taking before and after photos of the drivewayDid this help you?
- 3Placing plywood or crane mats under equipment outriggersDid this help you?
- 4Drafting formal access agreements guaranteeing full replacement or repairDid this help you?
- 5minding your own business until it affects your propertyDid this help you?
- 6checking online city permits and calling the building departmentDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Would you guys let a neighbor put this big equipment in your driveway while they do work to there house? My wife gave them permission while I was at work, but I feel it risk damaging our driveway. Am I overrating in thinking they should of found a different way or do I have valid points?”source ↗
“I'm not one to meddle, but who can I report this guy to?”source ↗
“And thats the problem. My wife didnt ask any of those questions. Just agreed trying to be a good neighbor.”source ↗
“Two story house + a basement, this is the retaining wall into the basement. I assume they’re cutting a new door or window. Clearly a terrible idea but the damage is already done at this point and I’m not the kind of person to get into other peoples business. Is this a call to the county or just let them finish their DIY disaster?”source ↗
“Well there’s cement dust all over the fucking place and it looks like shit. If your city hosts permits online check to see if a permit was pulled. If you care and there’s no permit call the building department.”source ↗
Where this came up
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