Anonymous wrote:Call a lawyer. It's time. If you've got everything lined up, get your documentation, give it to your lawyer (you need one who specializes in this) and let them write a letter. That should take care of it.

Same poster:

For good measure, have them CC your neighbor. Or write a separate vaguely threatening letter to your neighbor about harrassment.

Looks like this lawyer specializes in this:
https://paulhuntlaw.com/home-improvement-contractor-license/dc-building-permit/

Call a lawyer. It's time. If you've got everything lined up, get your documentation, give it to your lawyer (you need one who specializes in this) and let them write a letter. That should take care of it.

Ops lack of explanation beyond "it isn't clear" is certainly suspicious

Anonymous wrote:I have a history with the neighbor and I think she is just trying to create trouble and expense. If anyone has a referral for someone who deals frequently with DCRA and could help me with this, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Sorry, no referral, but like everyone else here I am interested in the dish if you end up wanting to share, ha.

I have a history with the neighbor and I think she is just trying to create trouble and expense. If anyone has a referral for someone who deals frequently with DCRA and could help me with this, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Can you tell is what the complaint is? Maybe someone on here will be able to clear it up for you

I don't think there's anything wrong, but like I said the DCRA inspector just repeats what the neighbor's complaint (which isn't clear) so I don't know what the violation is or what they want me to do to fix it.

Why does your neighbor care? There is more to this story.

Yes, I had a permit and I worked with the home-owners center at DCRA, so I thought I'd done everything I needed to do. I've had two additional contractors look at it and say there's nothing wrong structurally.

DCRA had an impermissble house removed. Why do you think they would not care about an illegal deck?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2006/05/19/house-in-back-yard-is-declared-impermissible/7caff558-9523-4d34-bf0e-319561562747/

If you didn't have a permit, then the city s right to have you remove it. It is a safety issue. Are the footings and rails installed to safety code? These things cannot be checked after the fact.

Honestly if you didn't have a permit...

Did you get a permit for the deck? I’m not a permits-for-everything kind of person but for a deck it’s a necessity

Does anyone know a good attorney or representative who can help resolve a stop work order? Neighbor wants me to remove a deck I just had installed and got DCRA to give me a stop work order after the fact. I'm not getting anywhere with the DCRA inspector-- he either just parrots back the neighbor's complaint (which isn't at all clear) or doesn't get back to me. If anyone has a reference for someone with experience is these matters, I'd appreciate it. Thank you!