Problem: Neighbor Building Pool

[MagicMan]

Question for contractors out there. I received a notice from the city inspector to relocate storm line on my property. My next door neighbor is having a pool built and in tearing up the backyard they discovered my storm drain connects to their storm drain and exits the property. The inspector’s suggested that at some point original owners may have been ok with sharing drain. I call bullshit i think it was built this way to catch storm water on both sides of each home. My next door neighbor has 2 drains I would have zero if this is the case. Is there anything I can do?

 

[MagicMan]

My apologies on the duplicate pics my house is on the left. You can see the storm line with the white elbow pointing up.

 

[Wizard29]

So they want you to relocate the drain on to your side and then run your own line all the way out to the street? From what I can see, that looks like a long run and a good amount of concrete to tear through in order to get that done. Not sure I’d tell them, “Sure, I’ll go ahead and take care of that!” My response would probably consist of two words and seven letters total.

 

[MagicMan]

Those are my thoughts as well. I gotta think this through.

 

[sirbob]

For what its worth I have a similar situation we installed on neighbors yard - the city made us put a signed letter on record with the city and the permits. Its possible this was done when the wall was built.

I'd check for those wall permits and see if any note is made of it.

 

[t&y]

Does your neighbor have a problem leaving the existing line? Or did it only come up because of the pool install? Both my neighbors share the storm drain lines that run on my property. Not a big deal, and was kind of a no brainer when we had the walls put in.

 

[traquer]

I know nothing about this, besides knowing my dad added one of these drains to his house where there wasn't one previously.

Is there a rule that says you need to have one? This is socal after all lol, not too many storms going around.

 

[DLC]

Talk to your neighbor disconnect during the build and after final inspection reconnect your line. Are you on good terms with the neighbor

 

[sirbob]

So they want you to relocate the drain on to your side and then run your own line all the way out to the street? From what I can see, that looks like a long run and a good amount of concrete to tear through in order to get that done. Not sure I’d tell them, “Sure, I’ll go ahead and take care of that!” My response would probably consist of two words and seven letters total.

I could see the nieghbor not worrying too much about your thoughts. He was a right to cap that drain and not allow it to cross his yard - what you choose to do with the water run off from your yard is up you. Nobody says you have to even bury another drain, you can just let it run down the side yard and out front.

Not what I'd do but...

 

[MagicMan]

I know nothing about this, besides knowing my dad added one of these drains to his house where there wasn't one previously.

Is there a rule that says you need to have one? This is socal after all lol, not much storms to go around.

No rule they can cap it my backyard will be flooded though. Just came up since the neighbor is tearing up his yard I think it’s becoming a nuisance while they are doing the pool build. They had to disconnect the line to do some work. Probably saying f it lets cap his line.

 

[c_land]

No rule they can cap it my backyard will be flooded though. Just came up since the neighbor is tearing up his yard I think it’s becoming a nuisance while they are doing the pool build. They had to disconnect the line to do some work. Probably saying f it lets cap his line.

I would go to the City and ask for the original grading plan for your tract. If it shows the drain in this configuration on the plan, tell them to pound sand. The original engineer designed it that way and the City approved it that way. You would be modifying the plan by capping it.

 

[Singleton]

I had this issue. Neighbored tapped into my storm drain (said he had agreement with past owner). Well, the drain failed (tree root) and caused major flood in my house.

Guess who paid the 40k in repairs! Not me or my insurance. Neighbor and I still maintained good relationship, but it was rough for the first few weeks.

your responsible for your own run off, I would either do what @sirbob stated or get it separate to protect yourself for future issues

 

[Wizard29]

I could see the nieghbor not worrying too much about your thoughts. He was a right to cap that drain and not allow it to cross his yard - what you choose to do with the water run off from your yard is up you. Nobody says you have to even bury another drain, you can just let it run down the side yard and out front.

Not what I'd do but...

I meant my response to the city. I read the post as the city wants him to install his own drain line, presumably to be code compliant.

Now if the neighbor has a problem with the arrangement, then yes, he would have the ability to cap it unless there is an established easement of some sort.

I guess it depends on who is making the request to change the current configuration.

 

[hallett21]

Not sure how your property drainage was designed or if you can prove this was approved by the city.

Any set of new drawings will make you collect your run off and get it off the property. Ive yet to see one that had you tie into a neighbors. I have seen 2 cross property lines/ easements. However they still were a stand alone drain and did not share with a neighbors.

I wouldn’t want to share anything with a neighbor. The 100 questions I got about putting a fence around our property was enough lol.

Like @Singleton ‘s story. I wouldn’t want my drainage to fail due to a root in the neighbors side. Just my .02.


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[Javajoe]

If I was your neighbor I would just cap it. Should not run into his property. Drag but that’s my .02
Hopefully you can work something out with him. Very odd indeed

 

[cofooter]

Maybe a dumb question, but are you sure the fence is built exactly on the property line? A foot in the wrong direction and that could be your drain.........

 

[lbhsbz]

Assuming you have a pool with all the equipment back there....where does that drain...sewer? Can you build small underground "drain box" with a sump pump that ties into the pool drain line?

 

[Icky]

You can just do a 90 and a pop up on your side and let it run down your concrete. It's going to probably stain your concrete after awhile though.

Maybe a dumb question, but are you sure the fence is built exactly on the property line? A foot in the wrong direction and that could be your drain.........

Looks like you can see the pin in the curb to the left of the hydrant

 

[samsah33]

I had some concrete poured in my backyard (SoCal), and they put a drain in but it drained to nowhere... It was legal, permitted, and inspected, but the drain pipe just ended in the middle of my side yard (under the ground). They asked me if I wanted it all the way to the street for an additional significant charge that involved breaking thru other concrete and curbs, so I opted out. Also, I don't have a drainage issue in my yard. Not sure if a drain to nowhere is an option for you...

 

[Captain Dan]

I'm a civil engineer. It's not likely the drain was built to convey drainage from both homes to one curb outlet (cross lot drainage) unless there's something in writing. More like a handshake deal between two previous property owners that should never have been, especially with ANY pools involved. It appears a new drain line should be run to the street for the home on the left, unless surface drainage is adequate. Wall appear to be built on the property line, I can see the lead and tack in the top of curb.

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Any impervious water is the responsibility of the property owner. That being said you need to find the original shed water plan. If it is designed this way(subdivision) then it is the responsibility of the "home under construction" to take care of it.

 

[johnnyC]

best bet would be to run a new line to the street, if your current neighbor would be good with reconnecting the drain line you would be saving a lot of work.....but..... what if you get a new neighbor and they want to do a improvement right where the connection is, and let's say you dont like each other your going to be up the creek and you will be cutting and digging anyway, best to get it over with and beholden to no one. imho... good luck

 

[zhandfull]

I would go to the City and ask for the original grading plan for your tract. If it shows the drain in this configuration on the plan, tell them to pound sand. The original engineer designed it that way and the City approved it that way. You would be modifying the plan by capping it.

Highly unlikely it was built that way when new. It would have been graded to have swell drainage down both sides of house to front. Previous owners filled in the swells to level out side yards. If the neighbor doesn't reconnect there is no recourse since not on OP property.

 

[Ziggy]

Curious @MagicMan , does the other side of your house have a storm drain out to curb? Is this commonplace throughout the neighborhood or just at random homes?
Either way, like others have said, my preference would be to have my own and limit your liability. Doesn't really look like surface draining is possible, however, you may be able to get enough drain slope a handfull of feet into the driveway to install a pop-up and not have to go all the way to curb.

 

[c_land]

Highly unlikely it was built that way when new. It would have been graded to have swell drainage down both sides of house to front. Previous owners filled in the swells to level out side yards. If the neighbor doesn't reconnect there is no recourse since not on OP property.

Shared use easements over the side yards and shared swales are common in planned tract communities.

With the block wall I wouldn’t plan on there being an easement though. It was either an oversight during plan check and it got built per plan or a lazy subcontractor during construction didn’t want to trench for another drain.

@MagicMan do other homes in your neighborhood only show 1 drain through the curb in the same location as yours?

 

[Xring01]

This is gonna cost you.
You are responsible for the run off of your property.

Unless there is a miracle document, that appears.

 

[Danger Dave]

Wait until they go out and burn their house down.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Lots of opinions from the RDP "experts" in here, but I think I would take Captain Dan's advise here a little bit more seriously, cause... you know..... profession and all......

I'm a civil engineer. It's not likely the drain was built to convey drainage from both homes to one curb outlet (cross lot drainage) unless there's something in writing. More like a handshake deal between two previous property owners that should never have been, especially with ANY pools involved. It appears a new drain line should be run to the street for the home on the left, unless surface drainage is adequate. Wall appear to be built on the property line, I can see the lead and tack in the top of curb.

 

[Spudsbud]

Lawyer. But probably, youre gonna get screwed.

 

[Community]

Assuming you have a pool with all the equipment back there....where does that drain...sewer? Can you build small underground "drain box" with a sump pump that ties into the pool drain line?

I was thinking that too. I thought pools had to have an overflow drain below the coping?

 

[SoCalDave]

@MagicMan do other homes in your neighborhood only show 1 drain through the curb in the same location as yours?

This. If most other homes in your track are like this you may have a chance but like others have stated I think you are liable for any drainage from your property.
Sump with a pump piped down the side of the house to the front gate is probably your cheapest way for clearing any liability issues.
Good luck in how ever you address it.

 

[MagicMan]

I talked to the neighbor we are friendly not close or anything. He says the city came out to inspect his project and stated the inspector wanted my line capped. However, when I spoke with the inspector he said to talk to neighbor and work something out. The inspector said that according to my neighbor its on his property and wants removed. In speaking with the neighbor he will be connecting his pool drain to that line. Our conversation was amicable he said he didn't want to cause me any grief and would talk to his contractor for another solution and follow up with me. To be continued, thanks for all the input good stuff. I don't wanna burn any ones house down LMFAO! Also I looked at other homes and all drains are located between houses. I think their designed this way to capture water from both sides of each home, but what do I know.

 

[SoCalDave]

There is no way in hell that the city inspector is going to sign off on the pool drain being connected to a storm water drain. But then again I have been wrong before.

 

[4Waters]

There is no way in hell that the city inspector is going to sign off on the pool drain being connected to a storm water drain. But then again I have been wrong before.

It just the overflow drain, usually not an issue since it rarely gets used.

 

[braindead]

It just the overflow drain, usually not an issue since it rarely gets used.

any water being drained from a pool nowadays is supposed to be drained into the sewer.
the chemicals react with the radiation and make the sushi taste funny

 

[Bigbore500r]

Cap it off.......then run your line about 10' down and tap back into it before you hit concrete

 

[rmarion]

The track homes built without furnished landscape (front yard). These lots were excavated with storm run off built in the soil. Which went away once the landscape was completed by the owner. These drain lines where installed by the homeowner.

You are responsible for your water runoff.

Unfortunately, you must install a new drain line.

Otherwise you cannot drain your water onto adjacent property.

 

[MagicMan]

My neighbor text me some good news. His contractor capped off my line and will reconnect it once they complete the underground work. Glad I reviewed my issue here instead of confronting my neighbor.