Ask the Architect

Who’s looking down at me?

Posted

Q. I’m appalled at the invasion of privacy going on with my property, namely the surveillance that led to a code violation for my backyard shed, fence and pool. I was told that the building department can look at my property anytime from a satellite and spy on me. Is this common, and what can I do about it? I was never told by the shed company or the pool company that I needed permits.

A. Recently, in a client meeting, I went online to look at the property from a satellite image and asked, “Who’s taking a shower on the second floor?” In horror, my client gasped, then realized I was just kidding. Satellite images, accessible to the public, aren’t live, but some government agencies do have live access. Typically I get calls from people wanting to do work to their homes, expecting a fee quote over the phone, sight-unseen. During that conversation, thanks to satellite and the Internet, I can look at the basic property and get an idea of what the “patient” looks like. How does a doctor give a diagnosis without an exam? The same holds true for an architect. So, in each case, satellite images help to get a first glance at the property.

An architect has to be able to see the same thing the building department is looking at. There’s nothing you can do about the intrusion in your life, and it’s surprising that you didn’t know you need a permit for a pool or shed. I’ve written many times about the danger a shed poses in a storm with high winds if it isn’t anchored safely to the ground, becoming a missile that can kill. The pool is a danger if it’s accessible to small children, and every year we mourn the loss of the innocent.

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