Who rents space?

[indy2tall]

I have a few questions for you all and then I want to open a can of worms!
1. How far on the average do you drive each day to your first yard or account?
2. How many of you rent storage space to store your equipment, truck and/or trailers?
Now for the can of worms. How many of you that operate out of your garage realize that you are (more than likely) in violation of your town or counties zoning laws and one complaint from a PITA neighbor could severely harm your ability to do business? Now before someone says I am full of it let me say I have researched this rather deeply and have been told by more than one zoning official in several counties that your home based business must be conducted INSIDE your home in what would normally be the living area and that your garage, even if it is attached, does not qualify.
Now I realize that the zoning people turn a blind eye to this situation unless someone complains but for all you part timers (like myself) who are growing your business and planning on going full time do not forget about this.

[LwnmwrMan22]

Ummm.... only if you're in the city. You didn't research enough.

However, someplaces here in MN, if your pickup has company lettering on it, you cannot park it in your own driveway, it's considered a commercial vehicle.

There's other places as well where you cannot park your own trailer anywhere on your property, or a boat along side the garage, or an RV cannot be parked in your yard.

[indy2tall]

Ummm.... only if you're in the city. You didn't research enough.

Although zoning will obviously vary from one area to another and state to state in the metro indianapolis area and in the surrounding counties the zoning laws are very very similar between people that live inside the city and those who live out in the country. Just because you are not in a city does not mean you are free from the long arm of big government.

[AL Inc]

My most distant account is about 6-7 miles from the yard I rent. I've been working on tightening my route, so we don't do much driving anymore. Years ago, I used to park my rig at my parents house, never had a problem, but we were on a dead end street. I remember going to town hall to ask the same question and one of the inspectors basically just said they wouldn't bother me as long as they didn't get complaints.
Now, I really like having the yard, park everything there, go home, and don't have to look at that stuff while I'm trying to relax. And no more rotten grass smell. Only thing that stinks is if I need a machine or blower at my house, I have to drive over and get it.

[mtdman]

I have a few questions for you all and then I want to open a can of worms!
1. How far on the average do you drive each day to your first yard or account?
2. How many of you rent storage space to store your equipment, truck and/or trailers?
Now for the can of worms. How many of you that operate out of your garage realize that you are (more than likely) in violation of your town or counties zoning laws and one complaint from a PITA neighbor could severely harm your ability to do business? Now before someone says I am full of it let me say I have researched this rather deeply and have been told by more than one zoning official in several counties that your home based business must be conducted INSIDE your home in what would normally be the living area and that your garage, even if it is attached, does not qualify.
Now I realize that the zoning people turn a blind eye to this situation unless someone complains but for all you part timers (like myself) who are growing your business and planning on going full time do not forget about this.

This is exactly why I operate from a storage area. That and I really want to keep my business life seperate from my home life. Two years ago I had my trailer and truck parked in front of my house for a few hours one evening and two days later the county inspector showed up. He said there were complaints I was running a business from my house and wanted to take a look. I let him look around the yard and told him I keep my stuff elsewhere, sometimes I bring it home to eat dinner and park out front. Some neighbor complained about it. He said as long as it's not there overnight no problems. Kinda pissed me off that someone would complain in such a short amount of time, but whatever.

The storage space I work out of is a mile away and it takes me about a half hour to drive and load up every day. It's wasted time, yes, but a necessary evil.

[BSDeality]

I operate out of my home for now, however my PITA neighbor just filed a complaint last week and i got a visit from the zoning guy. I now have to store my trailer over the winter and for the foreseeable future. He was pretty friendly about everything, basically said the neighbors are always complaining about something in town and he can't just ignore it.

This wasn't exactly a great way to end the season.

[LwnmwrMan22]

Another thing that helps, is I've got alot of equipment that my neighbors don't, so I do stuff for them all the time.

One guy uses my log splitter to split his wood, gives me a $50 gift card to a different restaurant each year.

Another one has a pasture that needs to be mowed, so we mow it twice a year for him.

Another one has horses, and nowhere to spread the manure, so my dad goes and gets it and spreads it on the guy's pasture, kills 2 birds with one stone.

Another one runs a construction business, so he's always running up and down the road with trucks / trailers.

I look at it, that yes, I COULD charge money to some of my neighbors for things they use / I do, but I get the money back in the fact that I don't have to have another area to keep all my stuff.

It DOES help too that I live on a 1/2 mile long dead end road with 11 houses total on it.

Everyone on the road has at least 5 acres, with most having 7-12.

[jasonnau]

I have both. I have a pole barn on my property in which I keep all of my equipment most of the time. However, it's on the back of the property in the lawn. I can't get to my snow equipment in the winter if it's there, so, I have to rent a moderate size storage unit to put my snow stuff in the winter. (Plow, spreader, snowblower shovel, hoist ect.). I only pay for it as long as I have to. We have a 5 acre lot, and really couldn't bother the neighbors if we tried. As for the zoning, I didn't know about that, but, it makes sense. I see that being more of a problem in subdivisions than anywhere else, but, I'm sure the rules probably apply in most areas. Nobody's hasseled me yet in two years. I'm friends with both of my neighbors, have done work for both, and it's woods across the street. In fact I've done some work for some of the police officers in our town as well. I think I'm safe for now.

[qps]

Although zoning will obviously vary from one area to another and state to state in the metro indianapolis area and in the surrounding counties the zoning laws are very very similar between people that live inside the city and those who live out in the country. Just because you are not in a city does not mean you are free from the long arm of big government.

I also live in Indy and going through the zoning thing as we speak, I think a competitor complained ( he got turned it) and I didn't...so he turned me in...currently trying to get a 5 acre lot rezoned light industrial to relocate, zoning inspector get me a 50.00 fine for have a trailer sitting in my drive....my drive is also 300 ft long.;) ....hopefully in a month or two my other property will be rezoned and the new shop can be built..someone always wants to mess with you

[wacamaster]

I think having some land is the key. I have 4 acres and everyone around me has minimum that. I would never consider EVER EVER getting a complaint with my truck and trailer out front all the time. Half my neighbors have dozers and bobcats laying around.

[Envy Lawn Service]

Well, if I had $5 for every time I've said this in my life, I could retire a wealthy man after saying just this once more. What this all boils down to is people with no lives living too dang close to each other.

Subdivisions and people living right on top of one another is just a nightmare waiting to happen.

I took up residence on an acre near the end of a dead end development in a well spaced neighorhood. Some people think that's a lot of land and that this is a country setting. I do not.

Despite the fact it's less cramped than lots of areas and despite the fact I have pretty good neighbors, I haven't been able to adjust to it and I probably never will. It doesn't bother me to the extreme it once did, but I'm still not comfortable and satisfied.

[jimmbo407]

I looked into this when I found out I had to register my business with the village along with the county and state. As long there is no advertising on the house or lawn we are fine where I live. I can't leave the trailer in the street more than 24 hours also, I have an open trailer so it never stays out. I do rent storage space for the winter and next year I plan on getting an enclosed trailer and leaving at a contractor storage lot. I'm not sure on the security on that however. Good tip for everyone is to find what the local laws are. My town has a website with all the ordinances posted. Happy Thanksgiving all.

[GrassBustersLawn]

INdy2tall & qps.....

Where in Indy are you located?

I'm NE by 71st & Binford.

I had a new neighbor move in 2 years ago and all of a sudden I had a zoning guy breathing down my neck. Coincidence? I don't think so! I didn't get a fine, but was threatened with $2,500 PER DAY. That gets your attention fast. That prompted me to do alot of studying of the zoning law.

I have my stuff in a storage warehouse about 1 mile from home. Costs me $355 per month for a 24x36 building and 2 parking spots. I'm busting at the seems in that location.

I have a NICE sign behind my house on 71st St. My area has been going thru alot of "redeveloping" effort. I've had a couple of crackpot residents of adjoinging neighborhoods harassing me about the sign. I was able to track down their phone # and confront them about that & haven't had any further problems. Zoning in my area says you can have 1 sign on property.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all!

[qps]

INdy2tall & qps.....

Where in Indy are you located?

I'm NE by 71st & Binford.

I had a new neighbor move in 2 years ago and all of a sudden I had a zoning guy breathing down my neck. Coincidence? I don't think so! I didn't get a fine, but was threatened with $2,500 PER DAY. That gets your attention fast. That prompted me to do alot of studying of the zoning law.

I have my stuff in a storage warehouse about 1 mile from home. Costs me $355 per month for a 24x36 building and 2 parking spots. I'm busting at the seems in that location.

I have a NICE sign behind my house on 71st St. My area has been going thru alot of "redeveloping" effort. I've had a couple of crackpot residents of adjoinging neighborhoods harassing me about the sign. I was able to track down their phone # and confront them about that & haven't had any further problems. Zoning in my area says you can have 1 sign on property.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all!

Southeast side of Indy, Beech Grove area, Envy is so right, we have 1-1/2 acres and built a 40x50 barn to store everything inside, my immediate neighbors could care less, they supported what I was doing, improving the property, no noise and never bothering anybody, but if someone sees a nice house with a nice car or truck sitting in it, instead of taking chances and working for yourself they would rather sit back and complain " must be nice to have all that stuff and so on" I'll show them and start messing with you....I don't know what zoing would allow an sign in Indy, we are zoned DS, you can have a doctors office, dental office, cabinet making, and several others....but have a truck sitting on the property and your in deep ****...I don't agree but its just a game the city makes us play.

[MTR]

30 miles radius, but mostly all my accounts concentrate on one or two subdivisions which are like 5-10 miles away from my houses.
Yes, HOA is pita but they are here to make sure your neighborhood is up in value. I am not allowed to leave my trailer and my boat on my driveway, but as long as they all tucked away inside garage and it shut from outside view, when people drive past your house and have no clue that you do lawn service, that is okay with them. As far as noise...well, every single one of homeowner either have someone cut or cut their own lawn, so everybody has some sort of noise-making lawn mower to deal with. No complaint.

[qps]

30 miles radius, but mostly all my accounts concentrate on one or two subdivisions which are like 5-10 miles away from my houses.
Yes, HOA is pita but they are here to make sure your neighborhood is up in value. I am not allowed to leave my trailer and my boat on my driveway, but as long as they all tucked away inside garage and it shut from outside view, when people drive past your house and have no clue that you do lawn service, that is okay with them. As far as noise...well, every single one of homeowner either have someone cut or cut their own lawn, so everybody has some sort of noise-making lawn mower to deal with. No complaint.

I would not attempt to have a lawncare company and live in a HOA, but either way, parked inside or out its considered a commercial vehicle if you use it in a for hire operation and not allowed in residential area's. I agree with what most HOA stand for...mainly to keep standards for all the homeowners but sometimes board members have there own agenda and well things get crossed up...my new site will be zoned industrial and have a 3800 s.f. building on it....trust me I see zoning violations all around me all day long and its frustrating seeing most get away it.....all it takes is an phone call and there problems begin too. My approach is to leave others alone and mine my own business, let someone else be a a-hole...

[indy2tall]

Grassbusters, I am in the Fishers/Carmel area but will be renting space this winter and am also actively looking to move well out in the county with enough land that I won't have a problem. The Clarks who own Re-Power (Scag & Walker dealer) clued me into this last year and I was amazed that you could still be hassled even when all your stuff was in your garage. The part that really pisses me off is how difficult the government makes it for someone who actually desires to play by the rules when almost everyone else is not. You would think that they would bend over backwards to help you since the better you do the more people you employ and the more taxes you pay.

[impactlandscaping]

We have some new property on the line for next year. The only hang up is it is currently zoned agricultural use only, and it needs to be rezoned. They said it could take up to 6 months for all the paperwork, etc. , to get it rezoned. In the meantime we are looking at somewhere larger to operate from. A local LCO just closed their doors a week or so ago, and I called to get the info on the site. It has a high traffic flow, and is centered in town.It had already been turned over in less than 2 days. Property is at an all time premium here in Morgantown. The site was about a half acre +/- lot, with a 2400 ft2 retail front and a small nursery. They took the green houses and all associated items. It was leased at $ 3500.00 per month plus all utils on a five year term. Basically, it's the building and some temp. irrigation lines for drip irrigation.Nothing stays on the market long here anymore.:realmad:

[mmacsek]

Envy,
I don't care if you have 10 acres between you and the neighbor, An A$$ is an A$$. I live in a row house and keep my equipment in the back yard at the National Guard. They lease the land and the Guard's landlord doesn't have a problem with it. I also lease a garage , 12' x 30', about 2 minutes from my house. We also own 2 acres in a nearby township but is zoned agriculture. It will cost about $7,000 to get rezoned because engineering work must be done. Land is at an obscene premium. Because of this I would have to wait about 2 years to get the engineering work done. I'll be leasing for a while. Matt

[RedWingsDet]

I have a few questions for you all and then I want to open a can of worms!
1. How far on the average do you drive each day to your first yard or account?
2. How many of you rent storage space to store your equipment, truck and/or trailers?


1. All my accounts are within about a 5mi radius.
2. I rent space to store my trailer.

For the can of worms, if I were to store my trailer or a 1ton truck at my house, its something like a $2000 or $5000 fine.

Plus I dont like to store that kinda stuff at my house, I like to keep work seperate from home. When im home, and outside, I dont want to look to my right and see a giant trailer sitting there being an eyesore. Plus the houses are soooo close together, it'd piss neighbors off. My house is like 15ft apart from my neighbor.

[SodKing]

I rent a warehouse in an industrial complex. Neighbors are all business', takes the problem out of what all you are seeing with your neighbors.

[JimLewis]

I have a few questions for you all and then I want to open a can of worms!
1. How far on the average do you drive each day to your first yard or account?
2. How many of you rent storage space to store your equipment, truck and/or trailers?.


1. 2-8 miles, depending on the day.
2. I rent a shop to store our equipment, trucks, trailers, etc. Zoned for commercial and agricultural use.

No can of worms here.