Atlanta homeowner says he spent $200K on building a house for resale — and then the city knocked a hole in it

An Atlanta property owner says he found part of his home demolished and alleges city workers were responsible, causing extensive damage just as he was planning additional work before he put the property on the market.

WSB-TV 2 Atlanta reported that Ronaldo Norman and his brother, who co-own a real estate investment company, had spent about $200,000 building a home in Southwest Atlanta. But when Norman arrived at the site in May, he says he found a large hole in the side of the house and bulldozers on the property.

“I saw demo bulldozers and a big hole in the side of the property,” Norman said to Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln. According to Norman, the damage was caused by city workers — but so far, Atlanta officials haven’t publicly commented on the incident.

Here’s what Norman says happened, and what legal options property owners may have in similar situations.

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Norman says he arrived at the site to find demolition equipment and a gaping hole in one of the walls.

“Just think about it, come pulling up to your property, and you see a big hole in the wall, and no one can give me an explanation as to why,” Norman complained. Norman alleges city workers took action because they thought his permit had expired.

“May 22, the day after they expired, they came out here and put a hole in my property,” Norman told reporters. He maintains the property was still in compliance, claiming he had filed for and received a six-month permit extension before the incident.

Whether a home is under renovation or fully built, city governments must follow a legal process before demolishing a structure. Generally, a property owner would receive notice along with time to rectify any issues.

Norman says he never received any such notice. City official’s only response, he claims, has been to advise him to seek legal counsel.

“This right here is a major setback because now we may have foundation issues,” Norman said.

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What protections do homeowners have — and what can you do if this happens to you?

While rare, incidents like this show how important it is for property owners to protect their investments and to act quickly if something goes wrong.

With no answers from Atlanta officials, the Normans may have to pursue legal action to recoup their losses. Here’s what that process could look like — and what other homeowners should know if they ever find themselves in a similar situation.

Consult a lawyer Because of a legal concept called sovereign immunity, suing a city can be complicated, but Georgia law does allow homeowners to file claims for damages, as long as they follow the right process.

File a notice of claim This is a formal document notifying the city that you intend to pursue compensation. The time for doing so varies by State and Municipality and can be relatively short; your local lawyer should know this. Missing this deadline could prevent your case from moving forward.

Collect all documentation This includes:

• Building permits and extension filings

• Photos or videos showing the damage

• Invoices and receipts for materials and labor

• Emails or letters from city agencies

• Any inspection reports or code violation notices (or proof that none were issued)

Request records from the city Filing an Open Records Request may reveal internal miscommunications or mistaken permit data that triggered the demolition.

Get a damage assessment A structural engineer or contractor can help assess whether foundational damage occurred and provide estimates to use in a claim.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.