AITA for reporting my neighbor for a code violation?

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Rainwater woes can drown a homeowner’s peace, but one savvy Reddit user turned their soggy yard into a triumph with a clever dry creek bed. Enter Greg, the neighbor whose rogue sump pump pipe, buried on their property, sparked a showdown. When Greg demanded they clear his drain, blaming their rocks for his flooded foundation, tensions boiled.

Sick, injured, and fed up, the homeowner fired back, exposing Greg’s shoddy setup. His explosive reaction pushed them to report a code violation. Set in a quiet neighborhood where drainage dreams meet property line drama, this tale tests neighborly bonds. Will the county’s verdict cool the feud, or will Greg’s threats flood the tension further?

‘AITA for reporting my neighbor for a code violation?’

My property has a lot of issues with rain water flooding. I've done a lot of research about mitigating such issues with land improvements. 8 months ago I noticed my neighbor, Greg, digging up the edge of my property. I went over to see what was up and he was replacing a sump pump pipe I had no idea even existed.

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The end drain cap was 25' from our shared property line and right on the edge of my property and the road right-of-way in a ditch that drains into a storm drain. 3 months ago I dug up the ditch and made a dry creek bed. It has massively helped! My yard now drains within 2 hours instead of the 3 days it used to(this technique is approved and recommended by the county).

A couple days ago Greg texted and asked me to uncover his drain because my 'decorative rocks' were blocking it, causing water to run down and damage his foundation. It was below freezing, I had an a**le injury and a fever from some sort of cold(not covid...i got tested).

I hobbled out there, uncovered his drain and took a photo showing a pool of water that was there as I uncovered, it wasn't clogged. This is where I might be an a**hole. To be honest, I am insanely proud of myself for solving my flooding issues. I had SO many people, including Greg, telling me I was doing it wrong and how I needed to install French drains and other over engineered concepts.

Im really tired of them assuming I didn't know what I was doing. That, with the early hour, the cold, and how crappy I felt I got testy. I tried to explain to him that my rocks aren't decorative and it is for water mitigation and his pipe is installed incorrectly(too deep and not enough slope).

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I reminded him he has had issues with the pipe before I did anything and, frankly, I don't see why he buried it at all especially on my property. He BLEW up. I didn't know this but apparently he does plumbing and water mitigation for a living. He said he is going to come dig up the whole area around the end of his pipe. I told him it is on my property and he will do no such thing.

I have security cameras up and will contact a lawyer and the cops if he does that. Until this point everything had been in text. He called me and screamed at me saying I don't know what I'm talking about, his drain has to be clear and that's final, he is going to make me regret moving here, and doesn't give a damn about my cameras because it isn't my property and I need to learn what I'm talking about before I run my mouth.

Today I contacted the county and they informed me it is against code to drain a sump pump anywhere but your own property so it really doesn't matter if it's on my proper or the right of way. They are sending out an inspector. It felt very validating to know I'm legally right but I feel miserable. I have barely slept and am second guessing my actions because of his extreme response. AITA here?

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This homeowner’s clash with Greg over an illegal sump pump pipe is a classic neighborly storm. Their dry creek bed fixed years of flooding, but Greg’s pipe, buried on their property without permission, sparked conflict. When Greg blamed their rocks for his foundation issues, the homeowner, sick and frustrated, called out the pipe’s faulty setup and reported the code violation. County rules confirm Greg’s drain breaks regulations, validating the homeowner’s stand.

Neighbor disputes often flare over boundaries. A 2021 National Association of Realtors survey notes 25% of homeowners face such conflicts. Greg’s hostility, especially as a plumbing professional, suggests wounded pride. His threats to dig up the area and dismiss the homeowner’s property rights escalated the feud.

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Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Languages of Apology, says, “Pride fuels conflict when communication fails.” Greg’s outburst fits this, rejecting the homeowner’s valid critique. The homeowner’s sharp response, though understandable, may have stoked the fire. Reporting the violation was justified, but de-escalation is key.

The homeowner should document interactions, as Reddit advises, and let the county inspector enforce the rules. A surveyor can confirm property lines, strengthening their case. Proposing a calm discussion post-inspection might ease tensions, focusing on solutions like Greg relocating his pipe. Staying firm yet civil—avoiding jabs at Greg’s expertise—could prevent further hostility. This saga proves good drainage and clear boundaries make good neighbors.

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Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Reddit brought the heat, serving up sharp takes on this drainage drama. Here’s what they said:

Rtarara - NTA: It's not your fault he's bad at his job and has illegal drainage. It's interfering with your life and your own flooding mitigation so you have every right to address it. He might be a jerk again later, but he's already a jerk so who cares. Good luck with everything!

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Kettlewise - NTA. I reminded him he has had issues with the pipe before I did anything and, frankly, I don't see why he buried it at all especially on my property.. This isn’t being an a**hole. This is also why before doing anything to your property, it’s a good idea to hire a surveyor to mark the property lines..

I didn't know this but apparently he does plumbing and water mitigation for a living.. Apparently not very well. he is going to make me regret moving here, and doesn't give a damn about my cameras because it isn't my property and I need to learn what I'm talking about before I run my mouth.

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The inspector will likely be able to confirm who’s property the pump is on. If they confirm it is in fact your property or otherwise illegally placed, your neighbor has no one else but himself to blame. And since he accussed you of not knowing what you are talking about,

why wouldn’t you call the city to check? They are, after all, the authority and have the property records. As for the threat - what a f**king bully. I know a lot of people like to say you shouldn’t p**s off your neighbors, but that shouldn’t be a reason to allow a nieghbor to treat you like s**t.

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Effulgencey - NTA. He's being a massive AH, make sure you keep documentation of all of this in case it escalates.. I feel bad for all his clients, if he fucks up this badly on his own property.

chubby-wench - NTA. You’re right for protecting your property, you were right in how you handled the flooding situation. Let the inspector handle the rest. Some people don’t know how to handle being in the wrong or even contradicted in the slightest. Don’t let that bother you.

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Pushkin1917 - NTA and you should be proud of the work you’ve done.. I definitely want an update on this one after the County inspection.

Wolfy-Corpse - NTA Keep a record of any and all interactions with this neighbour. I recommend not answering the phone, and communicating solely through methods that allow you to keep a record. Your neighbour has explicitly threatened you over this, do not let your neighbour get away with this or it will only get worse.

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Lemonygoodness52 - NTA. Its awesome you found a natural way to deal with your water issues by installing a watershed. When the inspector comes if they say it's on your property ask them if you are able to remove it from your property (to the property line) and ask how far back into his property the sump line has to stop.

Then find out who in your county is responsible for informing the neighbor and enforcing this as your neighbor has become hostile with you. You can check in with them on any violations from your neighbor.. Would love an update after the county inspector is out!

fromhelley - Nta! If he had come at you in the same fashion to discuss the situation that would be one thing. But another thing happened. He came to you screaming, even if it was in text, and demanding that you fix something he accused you of breaking. You don't owe him the time of even going out to check his drain.

You're kind to do so. He was upset and frustrated because his foundation was getting flooded and he took it out on you. He has a jacked up drainage system and that's not your fault. And if he thought the drain was not on your land, why did he call you to clear it?

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beard_lover - Having the local authorities involved is the way to go. He’s likely mad because he know he did something in a cheap, idiotic way and doesn’t want to fix it. He’ll be pissed when the inspectors come out (“they don’t know anything! We should have settled this without the city/county!”).

But he’s probably also the kind of person who would report a code violation on you the second guy did something he perceived as effecting his property. Good on you for taking drainage seriously- people say, “good fences make good neighbors,” but it’s really good drainage that reduces expensive property conflicts.

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random_name_mm - I mean NTA

These fiery comments back the homeowner, but do they miss any middle ground? What’s your take on this neighborly mess?

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This watery feud shows how pride and property lines can flood neighborly peace. The homeowner’s clever flood fix and rightful report of Greg’s code violation stand firm, but his threats cast a shadow. By leaning on county rules and keeping cool, they can navigate this storm. What would you do if a neighbor’s mistake soaked your property? Share your thoughts below!

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