Anonymous wrote:My neighbor refused to agree to let me access my wall from his property (the only option).
I’m needing to sue him for access per neighbor notification program.
Any ideas/comments ?

Did you talk to the Department of Buildings about this?

My neighbor refused to agree to let me access my wall from his property (the only option).
I’m needing to sue him for access per neighbor notification program.
Any ideas/comments ?

this form is for notification, and to let the neighbors know who to contact if they suspect something is improper. you do not need to facilitate their response.

i do recommend sending everything by certified mail, however.

Call and ask for clarification... If you need a signature, go over and ask for one. If not, send it with delivery confirmation so you can track that it was sent.

Agree with developer above. The purpose of the letter is merely 'notification'. Their signature is simply saying that they received the letter and have been so notified. The neighbors have no ability to oppose these projects.

I believe there is another level of project that requires neighbor approval. If OP just needs to send a notification letter, then approval is not needed.

Agree with others that you need to mail this and get the paper trail. Hand delivery defeats the purpose of the letter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea how it works on your end, but as a frequent recipent of these letters, I always oppose them, because they inevitably involve renovations that will impact neighbors negatively.

You bought a house with a certain footprint. Live in it.

Your not reading the letter correctly if you oppose it. "Opposing" is not the intent of the letter. If they send you a letter they are ok to proceed as a matter of right. It is a notification letter not a request for permission letter. Many properties in DC are rowhouse so when if they stay within the footprint, certain actions like underpinnings can affect neighbors and they should tightly be notified. Signed, DC Developer

lol. Just let the pp believe anyone is listening or cares about her "opposition". Yes, we needed your permission, your majesty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, knock on your neighbor's door and tell them you are planning a construction project and want to loop them in. Ask to set up a good time to meet. Bring your architect/developer and/or a set of the plans, depending on the scope of work you are doing. Know the extent to which your plans impact their property. Leave the notification letter/response with them - they are supposed to return it to you. If they are uncooperative or difficult, send them a copy of the letter via certified mail. They have 30 days (I think?) to return the letter - if they don't return it and you have followed all of the steps outlined by DCRA, you can begin construction.

You don't have to notify DCRA of any of this or the steps you took to notify them - but you definitely need the documentation that they were notified and signed off (or didn't) in case there are problems later with your project.

Thank you, this was helpful. Out neighbors are already OK with the project and have seen the plans. We just need to know how to go about officially notifying them for DCRA purposes. I suppose we can send a certified letter and just keep the receipt with our records. Sounds like DCRA doesn’t need this receipt for the project file.

OP, I think you are missing the forest for the trees. I am not the first poster but I think that it is very good advice to take the letter over personally. If I received a certified letter from a next- or back-yard neighbor I would be highly offended and annoyed at the rude behavior of people whose actions were going to result in my inconvenience and impede my ability to live peacefully and quietly in my home with my family. If your construction is going to negatively impact neighbors by noise, inconvenience, etc., then you owe it to them to hand-deliver the notice and to give them your cell phone number and email.

Hi I’m OP. Just to clarify, the neighbors already know and have seen plans. I sat down with them to answer questions. They know that a letter will be forthcoming. My question is just about the procedure so we are in DCRA compliance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, knock on your neighbor's door and tell them you are planning a construction project and want to loop them in. Ask to set up a good time to meet. Bring your architect/developer and/or a set of the plans, depending on the scope of work you are doing. Know the extent to which your plans impact their property. Leave the notification letter/response with them - they are supposed to return it to you. If they are uncooperative or difficult, send them a copy of the letter via certified mail. They have 30 days (I think?) to return the letter - if they don't return it and you have followed all of the steps outlined by DCRA, you can begin construction.

You don't have to notify DCRA of any of this or the steps you took to notify them - but you definitely need the documentation that they were notified and signed off (or didn't) in case there are problems later with your project.

Thank you, this was helpful. Out neighbors are already OK with the project and have seen the plans. We just need to know how to go about officially notifying them for DCRA purposes. I suppose we can send a certified letter and just keep the receipt with our records. Sounds like DCRA doesn’t need this receipt for the project file.

OP, I think you are missing the forest for the trees. I am not the first poster but I think that it is very good advice to take the letter over personally. If I received a certified letter from a next- or back-yard neighbor I would be highly offended and annoyed at the rude behavior of people whose actions were going to result in my inconvenience and impede my ability to live peacefully and quietly in my home with my family. If your construction is going to negatively impact neighbors by noise, inconvenience, etc., then you owe it to them to hand-deliver the notice and to give them your cell phone number and email.

OP is sending it certified mail so that she'll have a record/paper trail should DCRA ever ask for one. It sounds like she has already discussed this with the neighbors. Perhaps she should explain to the neighbors why they will be getting it via certified mail.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, knock on your neighbor's door and tell them you are planning a construction project and want to loop them in. Ask to set up a good time to meet. Bring your architect/developer and/or a set of the plans, depending on the scope of work you are doing. Know the extent to which your plans impact their property. Leave the notification letter/response with them - they are supposed to return it to you. If they are uncooperative or difficult, send them a copy of the letter via certified mail. They have 30 days (I think?) to return the letter - if they don't return it and you have followed all of the steps outlined by DCRA, you can begin construction.

You don't have to notify DCRA of any of this or the steps you took to notify them - but you definitely need the documentation that they were notified and signed off (or didn't) in case there are problems later with your project.

Thank you, this was helpful. Out neighbors are already OK with the project and have seen the plans. We just need to know how to go about officially notifying them for DCRA purposes. I suppose we can send a certified letter and just keep the receipt with our records. Sounds like DCRA doesn’t need this receipt for the project file.

OP, I think you are missing the forest for the trees. I am not the first poster but I think that it is very good advice to take the letter over personally. If I received a certified letter from a next- or back-yard neighbor I would be highly offended and annoyed at the rude behavior of people whose actions were going to result in my inconvenience and impede my ability to live peacefully and quietly in my home with my family. If your construction is going to negatively impact neighbors by noise, inconvenience, etc., then you owe it to them to hand-deliver the notice and to give them your cell phone number and email.

Anonymous wrote:OP, knock on your neighbor's door and tell them you are planning a construction project and want to loop them in. Ask to set up a good time to meet. Bring your architect/developer and/or a set of the plans, depending on the scope of work you are doing. Know the extent to which your plans impact their property. Leave the notification letter/response with them - they are supposed to return it to you. If they are uncooperative or difficult, send them a copy of the letter via certified mail. They have 30 days (I think?) to return the letter - if they don't return it and you have followed all of the steps outlined by DCRA, you can begin construction.

You don't have to notify DCRA of any of this or the steps you took to notify them - but you definitely need the documentation that they were notified and signed off (or didn't) in case there are problems later with your project.

Thank you, this was helpful. Out neighbors are already OK with the project and have seen the plans. We just need to know how to go about officially notifying them for DCRA purposes. I suppose we can send a certified letter and just keep the receipt with our records. Sounds like DCRA doesn’t need this receipt for the project file.

OP, knock on your neighbor's door and tell them you are planning a construction project and want to loop them in. Ask to set up a good time to meet. Bring your architect/developer and/or a set of the plans, depending on the scope of work you are doing. Know the extent to which your plans impact their property. Leave the notification letter/response with them - they are supposed to return it to you. If they are uncooperative or difficult, send them a copy of the letter via certified mail. They have 30 days (I think?) to return the letter - if they don't return it and you have followed all of the steps outlined by DCRA, you can begin construction.

You don't have to notify DCRA of any of this or the steps you took to notify them - but you definitely need the documentation that they were notified and signed off (or didn't) in case there are problems later with your project.

Anonymous wrote:No idea how it works on your end, but as a frequent recipent of these letters, I always oppose them, because they inevitably involve renovations that will impact neighbors negatively.

You bought a house with a certain footprint. Live in it.

Your not reading the letter correctly if you oppose it. "Opposing" is not the intent of the letter. If they send you a letter they are ok to proceed as a matter of right. It is a notification letter not a request for permission letter. Many properties in DC are rowhouse so when if they stay within the footprint, certain actions like underpinnings can affect neighbors and they should tightly be notified. Signed, DC Developer

I think if you really want the neighbors to buy in to your project then you should consider meeting with them face-to-face to talk it over with them and then leave the letter/form for them to sign and send in later.

No idea how it works on your end, but as a frequent recipent of these letters, I always oppose them, because they inevitably involve renovations that will impact neighbors negatively.

You bought a house with a certain footprint. Live in it.

Hi - we need to officially notify our adjoining neighbors about a by right addition/renovation we are doing, and are confused by how exactly to do this. DCRA has a form letter called "Notification Form, Safeguards During Construction", which I think is what we have to fill out and give them. Attached is a form for them to fill out saying that they are OK or not OK with the project. DCRA's website says we can send them this via first class letter, but there is no information on how to document this, or if we need to provide documentation to DCRA. Anyone know the answers to this?

Although I think they are OK with the plans, I suppose it's possible that they will not sign the form, so I'm looking for a plan B in case we don't get signatures back from them. Can we just mail or deliver the letter and check this off the "to do" list?

Also, does anyone know if there is a date by which this needs to be done, or is it just any time before the issuance of the permit?

I would call but we're going into the weekend so the office is closed. Thanks!!