New ADU being built inches from neighbor’s home in Normal Heights

There are less than 18 inches between the chimney attached to Charles Brock’s Normal Heights home and the ADU being built next door. Charles turned to the city for help, but they said the project is permitted.

“It's very upsetting,” he said. “Make no mistake. My wife and I have lost countless hours of sleep for the last year.”

When Charles first saw the construction starting next door, he didn't give it much thought. “They tore down the garage that had been there, I was like - doing something… none of my business.”

Then he got a call from the contractor that a fence he thought was on the property line was actually off by more than a foot. The contractor told him the fence was coming down and a new ADU was going to be built right up to the new line.

Working for You, CBS 8 discovered that current codes wouldn't allow this to happen. Two-story ADUs now have to have at least a four foot side yard setback. Unfortunately for Charles, the permit for this construction was submitted before that went into effect. As a result, it’s legal.

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