Is there any way to fight them on this? Here's the ordinance they referred me to:

"It shall be unlawful for any person owning or occupying real property within the city to permit any growth, refuse, trash, garbage, or scrap material to accumulate and remain upon real estate owned or occupied by the person within the city, which accumulation of materials upon the property attracts rodents or otherwise is a nuisance to the public. "

could you move it or build/buy a fully enclosed but?

Does it attract flies?

I'd call my councillor.

Lloyd

What state are you from? I'd make sure that you visited your local extension office for all KINDS of professional and expert support.

Why has this bin attracted the attention of your neighbor?

The guys from the city said, "That's not a compost pile, that stuff is just going to rot". What do you say to that?

It's a well-tended, balanced N/C pile built out of used pallets. I tried to explain that to him and he just wasn't hearing it. The first guy from the city said "That's a really good idea for an urban compost bin. I'm going to tell my wife we should build one of these."

Now they're telling me I have to get rid of it. Oh, and the neighbor also weedeated my turnips because they were hanging over my border which is on my property. Frustrated!

I'm in Louisville, Ky (but also City of St. Matthews, I don't understand how I live in two cities at the same time, but apparently I do, St. Matthews is the one cracking down, Louisville has no problem.)

It might be best if you can have the pile furthest from sight (or smell).

The part that really gets me is he said That according to city ordinance compost piles have to be completely enclosed. I asked him for a copy of the ordinance and he directed to what I cited above. As you can see it doesn't say anything about that, doesn't even mention compost piles. I really think I can fight this just don't know how to go about it. No money for a lawyer.

"As the planet, nation, cities and households go GREENER we here in the City of St. Matthews want to help lead the way."

Seems this quote should be brought to the attention of the councillors along with your problem you are having with the administration.

Lloyd

I've decided to follow the advice of some of you and document and research. I'm not removing it and if they try to fine me I'll fight it. I really dont think they have the law on their side on this one.

1. the neighbor doesn't want to see your compost efforts.
Remedy: I doubt covering or containing it will help, so put it somewhere else.

2. Neighbor doesn't want any of your plants to touch his property.
Remedy: Stay far enough from the property line to do just that.

3. Consider this:
Neighbor may hate the looks of your veggie garden -- many folks consider all such gardens extremely messy.
Remedy: After you take care of the above 2 items, consider building a solid fence that meets the criteria of your two cites.
Friendly option: Take a plate of cookies when you go to ask neighbor what kind of fence he would prefer, then show him pictures of several kinds you can tolerate. Go with his choice.

I know you're riled -- I would be, too. But if you don't try to appease him, he will escalate. I've heard stories about nasty night-time raids; unwanted "pruning;" and "oops, I didn't know that spray was a weed killer."

Good luck.

cut grass taller and leave the clip on the ground, that is the feeding of the lawn taken care of.

then tuck all rottable material and food scraps under you mulch.

have compost worms in the gardens will also help.

too easy hey.

Greenwood, you may be able to find an attorney to work your case for free but I don't think you'll need one either. Nothing in the ordinance you posted applies to your compost and the newsletter published by the city describes making an open pile 5 ft. high. That's a big pile. Is yours big enough?

I'd take several steps before hiring an attorney or trying to get a restraining order.

1) Document, document, document. Get a notebook (or your computer) and write down everything. On this date, code enforcer Dave X. visited, I showed him the bin, he said it looked nice and he wanted one. On this date, crazy neighbor weed whacked my vegetables. Etc. This gives you ammo for later.

2) Write a very reasonable and polite letter to the code enf. office, the boss if possible, stating that your neighbor has complained, you had visits from the city and you do not believe your bin is in violation because: 1) it is enclosed, well maintained and the inspector said so on such and such a date; 2) composting is generally not considered trash disposal, it is nationally recognized as simple and sanitary recycling; 3) the city itself encourages composting (refer to the newsletter); 4) the code does not prohibit or even mention composting; 5) you put only yard waste and vegetative kitchen scraps in your compost bin as generally recommended. Include a picture. Apologize for your neighbor, whom, you might add, may be unbalanced since he threatened violence for weeding your garden the first time you met him and has harrassed you ever since, including trespassing to destroy vegetables that were entirely on your property. Thank them for their concern, state you have no intention of removing your well maintained and legal compost bin, and tell them to have a nice day. Copy your city councilman, and the neighbor (if you dare).

3) You have a Neighbor from Hell. Consider getting a motion sensitive security cam (game cameras are cheap nowadays) to document his antics. It may not be possible to appease this nutball, and you will probably never have a normal relationship because he's not normal.

4) You might just take a picture of your compost bin once a week with the date embedded in the photo. In case kooky man complains to the city again you will have a long line of photos showing that you maintain your garden and yard just fine.

Stand tall, don't let it get to you! Keep us posted.

Tox

I always share. One neighbor even put a box on her front door so I can just fill it up.

I happen to be a gummint employee myself, not at the city level, but I understand a bit the position they are in and how to approach them from experience. Their first response was the easy way out, but once you stand up for yourself and make a cogent argument, if they aren't completely pigheaded, they will hopefully get the idea that you are not a pushover, and that your neighbor is also a goofball, and they will start listening to your reasoned discourse more than his rants. This is only step 1, by the way. If they still insist that you remove it, insist that they do so in writing and state the reasons. Then you can refuse in writing (we'll even help you with that!). By that time it'll be fall and you'll have a whole season of compost under your belt, and you'll still have your bin. :-D Meanwhile, you can still think about other places to put it so as to avoid whatshisname's scrutiny. Just some ideas to consider.

I didn't really want to go off into the front yard garden thing, but I can't help remarking that if there is a city ordinance in that town, there's really not much you can do. We may not like it, but it's the law. It doesn't matter if we think it's a silly law, or unfair. If enough people don't want it, it can be changed. If people do want it, and it's not unconstitutional, there it is, so you comply or move somewhere else.

The problem could be solved by amending the law to address whatever specific problems people were worried about in the first place - like unkempt weeds, which are usually prohibited in front yards anyway. Where I live you can't have a lawn or weeds over a foot tall. Then, a beautiful well kept garden like this can be allowed and everybody wins.

PS I think it's a silly law myself. :-D

I believe you will prevail when you go to Municipal Court. Take copies of pictures with you for the Judge. Also provide printed copies of the city's recommendations re compost bins. And a reprint of page 6 from St. Matthew's Newsletter (or whatever it is). The Code Enforcement Officer will be present in court and will look the fool to your Judge. Just keep your cool while in court. It would be nice if you could have your good neighbors there to support you.

To all re the front yard garden in Canada: Everyone should check their city's code before embarking on a project like that. My city's ordinance reads that no more than 30% of the front can be planted in vegetables. Homeowner's could seek a variance from Mayor and Council, perhaps have, which would allow a larger %.

Please let us know how your day in court goes. Have some champagne chilled for after court.

Rosie, Sugar Hill, GA

TT: usually weed and other nuisance ordinances are only enforced when someone complains (which, interestingly, is what happened to the OP in this thread). It's not a high priority for most cities, they have other stuff to do, but they have to respond to complaints. I think that's the main reason they have the ordinance, to give the neighbors recourse for an unmaintained property or a landlord isn't getting his rentals mowed. But they often look the other way if the neighbors seem to be OK with it.

No way to garden in the back yard, not much sun. My neighbors have no problem with it, but if they did they couldn't do anything about it!

In fact they are always commenting on what a great garden I have.

Tox, in my city, a citation will be issued and if compliance doesn't happen, a notice is given to the homeowner to appear in Municipal Court. Date for appearance/hearing will be given. No cost to homeowner unless found to be in the wrong.

greenwood, you can get info for your area via calling the Planning Dept. Think this usually falls under their work load.

Tox, in my city, a citation will be issued and if compliance doesn't happen, a notice is given to the homeowner to appear in Municipal Court. Date for appearance/hearing will be given. No cost to homeowner unless found to be in the wrong.

greenwood, you can get info for your area via calling the Planning Dept. Think this usually falls under their work load.

I compost in two plastic storage bins that sit next to my patio. They are dark grey and my neighbors have never had reason to even ask what they are for. I know you should not be limited in the use of your property but sometimes that's how it is. Instead of fighting battles why not solve the neighbors issues? Keep your garden away from the property line, keep your compost out of sight. The neighbor is certainly a jerk but knowing that maybe you can work around him.

The problem isn't the compost or the law, it's the neighbor.
..

CH