Does the city have right to tear up driveway?

Question

a man came to the door today to notify us that the city will be replacing the sewer lines and will be working on the street & sidealk.

We have a concreted-rock driveway that he said they might have to get inder and if they do they will do the best they can to replace it. Do they have a right to tear up our property???? Could we sue them if it doesn't look like it did before?

Answer 1

don't know the inns and out cuz I'm in Ireland. But here you only rent the land your house is on for 999 years even if you own it so they can dig up whatever they want if it's for the benefit of others. BUT take photos of your drive now and if your not happy approach them after!

Answer 2

Yes, they have the right to do that.  They have to compensate you for any damage they do or fix it themselves.  You can't sue them if it doesn't "look like it did before" but you can sue if it is damaged.

Answer 3

The city has the right. You could sue, but would lose.

Answer 4

In most cities, that portion of the driveway that crosses the sidewalk belongs to the city.  They can tear it up and it is up to you to fix it.  Most cities will try to fix the damage they do, but no city will guarantee that it will be to your satisfaction because some people will never be satisfied.  

Answer 5

welcome to the real world, the government can and will do whatever they want whenever they want.

Thats why some call the the u.s. mafia

Answer 6

It's probably not your property, it's the city's.  They can do whatever they like with their property.  And no, you can't sue them if it doesn't look the way it did before.  

Check with the deed to find out exactly where YOUR property starts.  I bet it's not where you think it does.

Answer 7

Yes, it does. While you probably own the land the driveway sits on (you may not if they're talking about a certain distance from the street), the city or water utility owns an easement on your land that allows them to access it in order to place or service sewer lines.