Driveway

[Jejuca]

We live in a patio villa and would like to add a few feet of cement to each side of our driveway
so we can park two cars on it. I called The Villages but the department that handles that is moving so they don't have access to their phones. Does anyone know if we need our neighbors consent?
The neighbor who will be impacted (he will lose a little lawn and his sprinkler head will have to be moved - which we will pay for) has already told us that he will not agree to this.
Do we need his permission?

[BarryRX]

We live in a patio villa and would like to add a few feet of cement to each side of our driveway
so we can park two cars on it. I called The Villages but the department that handles that is moving so they don't have access to their phones. Does anyone know if we need our neighbors consent?
The neighbor who will be impacted (he will lose a little lawn and his sprinkler head will have to be moved - which we will pay for) has already told us that he will not agree to this.
Do we need his permission?

Do you need his permission to expand onto his property? What in the world makes you think you have any right to do this?

[Jejuca]

Please forgive me for not explaining in full - the concrete would only go to the end of our house. His sprinkler head is in front of our house. It is the way patio villas are set up.

[Barefoot]

The neighbor who will be impacted (he will lose a little lawn and his sprinkler head will have to be moved - which we will pay for) has already told us that he will not agree to this. Do we need his permission?


You will probably need your neighbor's permission, and probably also need permission from the ARC . If I were you, I'd take my time, and be VERY careful about getting proper approvals.

[Jejuca]

Okay - thank you. I guess we don't own the property right in front of our garage. Not to the side but right in front of the house.

[redwitch]

Think you'd have to have a survey done to find exactly where the property line is. If the sprinkler head and grass is on your side, then just see if ARC will give you permission (which I kind of doubt, honestly). If that is his property line, I'm afraid you're going to have to figure out a way to make the driveway you have work.

Of course, if you do manage to get the required approvals, you're going to have a neighbor or, quite possibly, neighbors upset with you. Not sure that the extra width would be worth the hard feelings.

[NotGolfer]

Yes...you'll have to go through proper channels and you might find out from ARC you can't do this. We have friends who live in a patio villa who say that their neighbor's property is in actuality on part of what you'd think was theirs due to (as you say) the way they build these villas. For instance the gates are in front of the neighbor's front doors to get into the patios. I'd say "IF" your neighbor isn't happy about it....that would be another red flag against this.

I personally love the patio villas but at this time wouldn't think of living in one due to the way they build the driveways driveways, the parking (or lacking there-of) and all that goes with that.

[theorem painter]

We bought a patio villa that had extra cement added on both sides. The original owners went through the proper channels and had it approved. The next door neighbor went ballistic (even though she couldn't even see it from her property because of bushes,). Other neighbors attempted to get a permit after that to add to their driveways and they were denied and were told that The Villages no longer approves it because of neighbors complaints. Needless to say we keep far away from this neighbor.

[Jejuca]

Our other neighbors support us. Many of them have done this exact thing. You're right about the survey. It seems strange that the neighbor owns the land in front of
my actual house. Think we will consider moving instead.

[Jejuca]

Thank you theorem painter and not golfer - that is exactly the info we were looking for. I very much appreciate your taking the time to answer my question. I'm not sure how the discussion took the turn it did. Boy, was I judged and convicted by some. I have learned an important lesson from the responses to this post. I may never post again!
Anyway - it looks as though if my husband wants to fit two cars in the driveway we will have to move :).

[e-flyer]

It would be worth it to call ARC and have the representative stop by. Tell them what you want to do and they should be able to determine if you can legally do it. If it's truly on your neighbors property, you don't stand a chance. I think even when you put in the concrete edging (borders around flower/bushes) you can't be within 2' of any property line.

[mixsonci]

Thank you theorem painter and not golfer - that is exactly the info we were looking for. I very much appreciate your taking the time to answer my question. I'm not sure how the discussion took the turn it did. Boy, was I judged and convicted by some. I have learned an important lesson from the responses to this post. I may never post again!
Anyway - it looks as though if my husband wants to fit two cars in the driveway we will have to move :).

I rented a Patio Villa in December and I found the driveway much too small for both a small car and the golf cart. I kept driving over the edge of the driveway unto to the grass (I was afraid I was going to blow the tire)because I was afraid of hitting the car or the cart if I didn't move over far enough. I found it quite difficult and glad I didn't buy a Patio villa.

[ron122049]

We live in a patio villa and would like to add a few feet of cement to each side of our driveway
so we can park two cars on it. I called The Villages but the department that handles that is moving so they don't have access to their phones. Does anyone know if we need our neighbors consent?
The neighbor who will be impacted (he will lose a little lawn and his sprinkler head will have to be moved - which we will pay for) has already told us that he will not agree to this.
Do we need his permission?

Of course you will need your neighbor's permission to encroach on his property. It's called an easement. Or you need to purchase the property from your neighbor. Sounds like he won't agree...and why would or should he? He paid for his property too!

[NotGolfer]

You're welcome on your kind response! Way in the beginning of considering the purchase of a house...friends of ours (who have a CYV) told us to look for a home with a 2 car garage, that has the laundry inside and a 3rd bedroom. Now I know they build such villas but I'd still pause as the parking for guests is so limited. Think if you have a larger party during the holidays or any other time. The "guest" parking is often a distance away and also is limited in size. Many times residents have parked a vehicle there as well, which I think is questionable re: covenances but that's a whole other thread of controversy as I've observed on here before. When considering a home we full-well knew what was allowed and wasn't before we signed a contract. Hoping you find a good resolve for you situation!

[theorem painter]

Funny thing about property lines and patio villas. Our survey map shows that we own 2 feet to the right of the garage yet we were told when we bought the property that it is the neighbor's responsibility to take care of the property from driveway edge to driveway edge. Makes little sense to me but that is probably why neighbors object to the driveway additions. And Jejuca - I agree with your comment about the tone of some of the responses. Is sarcasm really necessary to make a point?

Sally

[Jejuca]

My husband loves living in The Villages - me, not so much. Some of these responses beginning with the first one are very nasty. I was asking if we needed his permission - not if we could do it without his permission and not to be condemned for asking a question. We never had any intention of trying to do this without the approval of The Villages. I have read and reread my post and all it asks is if we need permission. I'm very disheartened by the continued responses. Thank you to those who did answer my question and did it nicely.

[TraceyMooreRN]

Okay- I might be confused--but we once owned a Patio Villa--If you are entering the driveway looking at garage- I thought my actual property line was to the edge of MY HOUSE. However, the neighbor to the left took care of the grass up to my driveway.

If you want to move for more parking space great-- If you want to continue your stay in your house- pull out the plot (most villas are rectangle lots)...or go to the county and request a copy of your plot.

Your land--his sprinkler can be moved or you can cap it. Still your land--good luck

[OldManTime]

We live in a patio villa and would like to add a few feet of cement to each side of our driveway
so we can park two cars on it. I called The Villages but the department that handles that is moving so they don't have access to their phones. Does anyone know if we need our neighbors consent?
The neighbor who will be impacted (he will lose a little lawn and his sprinkler head will have to be moved - which we will pay for) has already told us that he will not agree to this.
Do we need his permission?




Be Careful, you can not add on your neighbors side, it is there enjoyment side, absolutely forbidden.

[blueash]

I would ask if other homes in your neighborhood have already done what you propose. If so then I would believe it is okay as your idea seems entirely reasonable and someone must have thought of it before. Would the other option of instead of 2 feet on each side doing 4 feet on your side also work?

[Jejuca]

Great news directly from The Villages - we own the land in front of our garage and the neighbor does not have any say in whether or not we widen our driveway. Each district determines whether or not to allow the widening of a driveway. Different districts allow different things.
Again, thank you to all who actually answered my question and also provided additional information about their experiences.
We are relatively new to The Villages and this has been a learning experience for me.