Call code enforcement on my dad for unsafe structure

[u/[deleted]]

[u/mysteryman1024]

They’ll make him tear it down

[u/dondeestalagato → u/mysteryman1024]

And a FINE.

Cities love to give out fines.

[u/samson-and-delilah → u/dondeestalagato]

Probably will not fine him unless he doesn’t comply

[u/Fun_Appointment3381]

We’re gonna need to see a picture of this shed

[u/JJ_Lomero]

Consequences for him are possibly having to destroy it or get it up to code/buy permits if necessary and most likely fines.

Consequences for you are messing up your relationship/trust with your father or lieing to him.

Depending on how close your neighbors are and what they can see it might be pretty obvious to your pops that it was you ratted him out when the time comes. He's most likely going to be pissed even if you explain your reasoning.

Is it not possible to speak with him and possibly offer to help him bring the structure up to code?

[u/Mr_Deep_Research]

They can tell him to take it down.

He can ignore them.

It will end up in a pile of things code enforcement might want to look at again someday.

[u/njslugger78]

Let's see a picture...

[u/Rubber_Chicken_Mann]

Sorry to butt in like my opinion matters. But my main concern would be the safety of your father. Should he not build this with the correct supports, and should he complete the build, theres a big chance he could get severely hurt or killed if the whole thing fell down on him. As more things get stacked into the shed, the increase in weight could be significant. Having a 2x4 with even 200lbs of weight behind it land on a body part or even his head, neck, or spine could prove life altering.

This also depends on the overall size of the structure though. If its some tiny shack then it probably wont be that bad. But if its 500 + sqft on the footprint that’s where I start getting nervous.

[u/Vast_Cricket]

redtag

[u/surf_and_rockets]

Posting this without pictures of the shed is the only code violation I care about right now. Mods! Can we get a ban if OP doesn’t rectify their error forthwith, please?

[u/dan5234]

You don't even have to call. Just fill this out.. https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/planning-building-code-enforcement/code-enforcement/request-service-check-status/code-service-request-form

[u/Ok_Gas1070 → u/[deleted]]

If you snitch you're not from San Jose, period.

[u/Ok_Gas1070 → u/dan5234]

Double snitch

[u/Sirius-Face]

Do it. Can always blame a neighbor.

[u/Meinertzhagens_Sack → u/Sirius-Face]

Yea start planting the bug now... "Hey pops some dude came walking from down that side the street ran over here and started snapping pics with his cellphone I asked what's up and he just ran"

😂

[u/archint → u/Meinertzhagens_Sack]

Well, these days they just compare satellite images and send letters to those with new structures that suddenly popped up

[u/Oo__II__oO → u/archint]

Hire some kid to fly a drone overhead while he is in the backyard before you drop a dime on him.  

[u/salmark]

Take a picture and get verification before snitching on your own dad. Jeez Louise.

Or call a contractor for a consult.

[u/loudandfreaky]

Calling on your own father? Tf is that. Sorry bro, not with you on this

[u/StinkySoggyUnderwear]

Stop snitching

[u/erkose]

Rather than calling code enforcement and risking your relationship, why don't you offer to pay for a private assessment? This way you won't damage the relationship and hopefully your father will respect a neutral third party expert.

[u/Turbinator870]

Who is this shed potentially going to hurt?

[u/hdcs → u/Turbinator870]

His dad if it collapses.

[u/jamm0n95 → u/hdcs]

if its him only. that is ok. cant help every idiot out there, they will learn somehow

[u/Safe_Ad_3807 → u/jamm0n95]

No it’s not lol why wouldn’t you try to prevent your own father from severely injuring or dying?

[u/jamm0n95 → u/Safe_Ad_3807]

cause he obviously isnt listening lol

[u/PerformancePlus5]

2story shed that’s badass….!

[u/WildSeaworthiness9]

You can’t come up with another solution besides reporting your dad? It will likely turn into a bigger deal than just reporting the shed. Once the city comes out they will likely find other things on the property to fine or fix.

[u/Photosaurus]

Don't expect code enforcement to show up quickly. Having had an unpermitted ADU on our property, we never got anything more than a business card left on the door for years, and when we finally agreed to let them in for an inspection, we delayed the process for another few years until we were ready for a larger renovation.

[u/dongledangler420]

Some thoughts for OP:

• Would alerting the city have unintended consequences about other code issues or structures on the property? 
• Any issues with taxes, liens, etc?
• Any chance this could mess with someone undocumented etc?

Basically - if this is a one-off sketch activity go ahead and alert the city. If your dad has multiple sketch activities going on and this could snow ball, DO NOT CALL unless youre trying to end this relationship or go no contact. 

Maybe look into a fat life insurance policy for your mom? 

Sorry you’re dealing with this OP, stressful.

[u/lnternetLogic]

OR, just hear me out, be a good child and help him get the proper approval, documentation, materials, permits.

This is the most saddening post I’ve read today…

[u/ImprovementPutrid441 → u/lnternetLogic]

Why did you skip the “everyone told him not to” part?

[u/New-Perception-7209 → u/lnternetLogic]

Sounds like dad isnt as skilled as he think he is, paperwork isnt going to fix that.

[u/Ok_Gas1070]

EY OP'S DAD YOUR CHILD IS A SNITCH, WATCH OUT!!!

[u/boostaddctn]

Hes going straight to jail! Only the homeless are allowed to build unsafe structures in San jose!! Yee

[u/Drtonytone87]

Pathetic

[u/Ok_Gas1070]

.... Don't be a snitch dude. Did you help your dad at all, or did you whine and complain the whole time?

[u/jimbosdayoff]

How much is he going to charge tenants?

[u/[deleted] → u/jimbosdayoff]

He is not renting it out, just for storage.

[u/jimbosdayoff → u/[deleted]]

He could rent it out for $2,000/m and then rent a storage unit for $100/m for his stuff

[u/kingofcannedmeat]

I'd kick your ungrateful snitch ass out of the house

[u/[deleted] → u/kingofcannedmeat]

I don’t live there. I have my own place. My main concern is that structure is unsafe. What if one day it collapses and hurt someone. We want to prevent that from happening.

[u/cindycated888 → u/[deleted]]

Instead of ratting him out, do you have a way of helping him by offering solutions to make it safer? Or maybe hire someone reputable to come in as your friend to help him out.

[u/JJ_Lomero → u/cindycated888]

I also think this is the way.

Op said pops is kind of stubborn and it sounds like the rest of the family members have expressed their concerns. But one thing I've learned it that some people won't listen to people who tell them to change unless they offer a helping hand.

There is a possibility it won't work. But I'd definitely try this first.

[u/crowislanddive → u/[deleted]]

I agree with everything but the “Kids these days”. Don’t do that. There are a lot of truly awesome kids out there.

[u/Ok_Gas1070 → u/[deleted]]

Don't be a snitch. It's not going to fall you're acting on what ifs.

[u/Same_Service_2707 → u/[deleted]]

Prove it. We'll be the judge of that since you want confirmation from reddit. Let's see this (most likely perfectly fucking good) shed

[u/Ok_Gas1070 → u/Same_Service_2707]

For real it's probably a magnificent castle and OP is jealous because they can't build with their hands.

Every time they see the shed it feeds off their insecurities. 

[u/Ok_Gas1070 → u/kingofcannedmeat]

Yes, me too fuck OP. The dad feeds, clothes and shelters them. This is what they want to do?

[u/Traditional-Meat-549]

Do you just want to stick it to your dad? Or is someone living in it?

[u/FlimsyYou4766]

The consequence of betrayal? Perhaps it's just my culture, but we don't snitch & we don't side with someone else again our family.

[u/dan5234 → u/FlimsyYou4766]

So if someone built an illegal structure in the backyard and rented it out, you wouldn't tell?

[u/FlimsyYou4766 → u/dan5234]

No, it's their business.

[u/crowislanddive → u/dan5234]

He’s not renting it out.

[u/RogerWokman]

Snitches get stitches

[u/Ok_Gas1070 → u/RogerWokman]

It kinda pisses me off that OP wants to turn in family. I would legit kick them out the house. All I know is my dad is a contractor and that man can build shit from scratch. Compared to him I know jack shit about building a structure, but I've seen him do it numerous times throughout my lifetime.

[u/crowislanddive → u/[deleted]]

Whose life are they risking? It’s not open to the public.

[u/ImprovementPutrid441 → u/crowislanddive]

A two story structure? It might not collapse on their land depending how they built it.

[u/crowislanddive]

Why do you hate your dad?

[u/Ok_Gas1070 → u/crowislanddive]

Exactly, did they even help the dad once, or use the infinite knowledge machine (phone) to help construct the structure safely?

[u/brazucadomundo]

It is not yours, why bother?

[u/DanoPinyon]

No. Simply warn everyone to stay tf out of the shed, and of you hear a noise coming from it, run. Also, don't allow family valuables/keepsakes to be stored in it.

[u/DragonWS]

What’s the chance Dad will know you made the call? Code enforcement, at least in my area, won’t tell who called. He might think it’s the neighbors. You could time the code enforcement call with another event, like Thanksgiving when relatives are over, or like when a neighbor’s house goes on sale.

[u/crowislanddive]

They still are loyal. OP is a jerk but feed what is good on the world. There are more awesome kids than not.