Why is that in newly developed neighborhoods the houses are?

Question

Why now a days are houses built so close together, like in Florida? I understand that the owner of the land wants as many houses as possible on their land to make more money, but my question is:
We are trying to put a garage on our house, and the town will not allow us to do it because it will leave only about 12-15feet between our house and next door.
Yet, in this same town, within 2miles, houses that are newly built have only 10 feet between them.
Codes should be the same all around.

Can I fight this???

This is an old neighborhood, approx. 40yrs. Only 8 houses are on our cul de sac. I just don't get it.
There is pleanty of room for the fire dept.

Answer 1

The code is likely different because the fire department serving your neighborhood has the need for more space in the event of a fire.

You have to change the zoning for the entire neighborhood to "fight this". They will not allow just one property to be exempt from the coding. It may also require the purchase of a different fire truck for your fire department.

Your neighbors may not agree with the need to have their homes closer together. I doubt you will get very far wit this.

Answer 2

You can't fight it, because when the city gave the approval for the develper to subdivide and build, that was the CONDITIONS that the approval was given on.

That is why if you fight it, you won't win.

Cities ARE NOT OBLIGATED to treat every neighborhood the same, or have the same setbacks, etc, in every neighborhood.

If everyone else in your neighborhood is required to have a certain number of feet between the houses, then that is the rule for YOUR neighborhood.

NO, CODES ARE NOT the same all the way around, in ANY city in the USA.

Sorry you feel that way, but it's not how the world of real estate works.

Answer 3

You can try, but you probably won't succeed. Codes are NOT the same 'all around', and your particular neighborhood doesn't want houses close together. When neighborhoods or subdivisions are set up, 'setbacks' are determined. Those who paid handsomely to have a larger lot so their neighbors aren't on top of them aren't going to give in and let you change what they paid for.