Fire Hydrant location relative to property line

[isabellao]

Our fence is located 10' from the street and is on our property. There is a fire hydrant that is 9' from the street, and we are being told that our town bylaws require 3' clearance for all hydrants. Are we required to move our fence the additional 2', or can we require the town to move the hydrant?

 

[CdwJava]

Uh ... do you have any idea how costly it would be to move the hydrant?! They would have to dig up your yard, the street, and the sidewalk, disrupt water service for the entire neighborhood as they re-piped the area, and it would probably compel a huge engineering study dealing with water pressure, etc. before it could be done.

I strongly suspect that the city is under NO OBLIGATION to move the hydrant. If the city comes to you and orders you to move the fence, then you deal with it ... you can take the town to court challenging the bylaws or you can move the fence. Or, maybe you would be able to come up with a compromise. Keep in mind that the house the hydrant might be used to protect could be yours! If they cannot hook up to it because of your fence, how will you feel about that?

In almost all instances with regards to public safety, the city/state is going to prevail.