Urban renewal is in full swing all over the US. With projects booming in suburbs and metro areas, disruption has become the norm. To be a neighborly contractor, there are some rules you’ll want to follow—be realistic with your project schedule, follow local building codes, don’t be overly noisy, and be courteous of residents.
Avoiding the local code enforcement officer should be an understood objective of any contracting company, which means following local building codes, staying safe on the job, and not intentionally or unwittingly angering the neighbors.
To be a neighborly contractor, be mindful of the work you’re doing and how it impacts people around the project.
In simple terms, you need to love your neighbor.
6 etiquette rules for neighborly contractors
1. Define an achievable and swift project schedule
When working in a residential area, keep your projects timely. Construction sites aren’t known to be quiet, and neighbors don’t want to hear noise for years on end. A contractor should plan a timely completion without compromising work quality.
Feeling no deadline pressure can engender tardiness or infrequent work and an apathetic attitude among workers.
2. Follow local building codes and permits
Every job site has specific codes and permits that dictate when they can work. Disregarding permits and codes can result in city official visits and hefty fines.
3. Keep a clean worksite
Job sites are fenced off for a reason—they aren’t safe for the general public to enter without proper PPE. To avoid injuries, ensure you keep your job site clean. Where possible, clean up debris and excess materials.
“Consideration for the rights and feelings of others is not merely a rule for behavior in public but the very foundation upon which social life is built.”
—Emily Post
4. Remember, you’re a guest in the area
While you may be at your location for a job, you’re still a guest in the area. Behave as courteously as if you were staying with long-lost relatives on an out-of-town visit.
Be kind. Never bicker with, heckle, flip off, curse, or in any way quarrel with neighbors around the project.
5. Don’t drag out the project timeline
Remember that your project impacts others in the area and you don’t want to cause unnecessary disruptions.
Unless you hit major roadblocks, like a lack of proper financing, stick to your project timeline and aim to complete it as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality.
6. Never use one work site to stage materials for another
Cities have zoning laws to separate land uses in a reasonable way. That’s why you’ll never find large piles of gravel and other industrial materials in residential areas—they aren’t permitted. Storing materials on a residential street isn’t just illegal—it’s also highly disruptive.
