DC - Bushes From Private Home Blocking Sidewalk

[Anonymous]

There is a house in our neighborhood that has bushes that are overgrown and jut out into the sidewalk, taking up 1/2 of the sidewalk space. It's a busy sidewalk on busy street so the space is needed. A neighbor sent a note to the house asking them to trim the bushes several months ago, but nothing happened. Yesterday, she tried to report it online through the 311.gov site, but the site said DDOT only deals with trees on public property and homeowners are responsible for maintaining the trees on their property. I said I would check the hive mind here to see if anyone has been successful in getting a property owner to prune their overgrown bushes or get the city to do it? If you were, how did you get it done?

[Anonymous]

I know someone who was fined for having overgrown.

[Anonymous]

Clearly the best answer is to do it yourself. Just have a friend with you, in case Johnny Homeowner gets his feelings hurt.

[Anonymous]

Keep reporting it in the DC311 app every few days. You can upload photos and the the exact address. File it as a “Sidewalk Repair” and state something along the lines of “Public space Sidewalk blocked by overgrown bushes. Please trim. Disabled individuals and strollers cannot safely pass due to overgrowth.”

They usually will respond if you mention that disabled individuals cannot safely maneuver the sidewalk. Do not mention anything about the bushes on private property. If they come out to inspect, they will very likely just cut back and then fine the homeowner.

I find that city services tend to respond more promptly to the DC311 app because there’s a paper trail with photo evidence.

[Anonymous]

Are there disabled neighbors?
Your neighbors might be able to sue you.
Popcorn pls

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there disabled neighbors?
Your neighbors might be able to sue you.
Popcorn pls

Why would there need to be disabled neighbors? Public sidewalk should be clear enough for any disabled resident to pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there disabled neighbors?
Your neighbors might be able to sue you.
Popcorn pls

Why would there need to be disabled neighbors? Public sidewalk should be clear enough for any disabled resident to pass.

Sound like it is clear enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there disabled neighbors?
Your neighbors might be able to sue you.
Popcorn pls

Why would there need to be disabled neighbors? Public sidewalk should be clear enough for any disabled resident to pass.

Sound like it is clear enough.

Depends on the width of the sidewalk. “Taking up half the sidewalk” may make navigating in a wheelchair impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep reporting it in the DC311 app every few days. You can upload photos and the the exact address. File it as a “Sidewalk Repair” and state something along the lines of “Public space Sidewalk blocked by overgrown bushes. Please trim. Disabled individuals and strollers cannot safely pass due to overgrowth.”

They usually will respond if you mention that disabled individuals cannot safely maneuver the sidewalk. Do not mention anything about the bushes on private property. If they come out to inspect, they will very likely just cut back and then fine the homeowner.

I find that city services tend to respond more promptly to the DC311 app because there’s a paper trail with photo evidence.

I like this!
Or,
Put on a hoodie and a mask and trim the bushes yourself after dark one day

[Anonymous]

Definitely illegal - even if the bushes aren't blocking the sidewalk they are likely illegal as you are not supposed to have solid hedges in DC higher than 42 inches tall.

The problem is that the DDOT Public Space Inspection team is completely overwhelmed with illegal construction so it is going to be hard to get them to pay attention to this - I'd email your ANC Commissioner who will likely know who the inspector is for their area.

Alternately these bushes are not on private property so I don't think there is anything illegal about you just trimming them.

[Anonymous]

fwiw, twice in the last 20 years a person has cut a branch off a flowering tree that is on my property but does overhang the sidewalk. Just walked up with hedge clippers and clipped one overhanging branch (I saw one guy do it when he didn't realize I was behind him).

So people definitely do this in DC, in ward3 at least.

I go to great lengths (pun) to maintain a 7+ ft high clearance over the sidewalk so no branch would touch a person or obstruct passage of any point on the sidewalk. At all time. I've never been cited by DDOT. To this day I think the guy I saw was one of those Hall Monitor types who can't resist their compulsive tendencies.

[Anonymous]

OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

[Anonymous]

Like someone said above, file for sidewalk repair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

People's gardens shouldn't block the sidewalk, no matter how nice the gardens may be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

People's gardens shouldn't block the sidewalk, no matter how nice the gardens may be.

They’re not blocking the sidewalk, they’re slightly encroaching on the sidewalk. Op is crazy.