What to Do When the Neighbor's House is an Eyesore???

Do you have a neighbor who seems to only mow the yard when it has grown so high they can't find their car that's parked on the lawn?

Someone who has a boat parked in the driveway that hasn't seen a body of water in years?

How about a house with a broken fence or siding with peeling paint?

A neighbor who doesn't maintain their home brings down the value of the whole neighborhood.

Most municipalities have an office that is in charge of enforcing neighborhood preservation. Usually, all it takes is a phone call and an inspector is dispatched to the offending address for an inspection. Once a homeowner is cited, they city or county then gives the owner a certain period of time to clean up their act or be fined. In most areas, the inspector will return to ensure the problem has been rectified, or will take further action against the homeowner (such as the City mowing the yard and then sending the homeowner a bill).

In the Hampton Roads area, the following City offices handle complaints. Complaints are made anonymously so do not worry about retaliation from a fellow neighbor against you.

Virginia Beach: Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, Code Enforecement: 757-385-5750

Chesapeake: Neighborhood Services Department: 757-382-6018

Norfolk: Department of Neighborhood Preservation: 757-664-4000

Portsmouth: City Department of Code Enforcement: 757-393-8531

Suffolk: Neighborhood Development Services: 757-514-4150

Hampton: Codes Compliance: 757-727-8311

Newport News: Code Enforcement - Property Maintenance: 757-926-8861

Poquoson: City Permit Office: 757-868-3035

Isle of Wight County: County Administration: 757-365-6204