Okay to dig on city property ?

Welcome to our Antique Bottle community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Jimmy Langford

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2020
Messages
359
Reaction score
346
Points
63
Location
North Texas
There is a vacant lot that was cleared many months ago. The building that was there was only probably from the 1950s. But I have found manganese glass and a house on the 1922 Sanborn map. The Sanborn only extended to that street in 1922 so I don’t know exactly how old the house was. The lot is vacant and owned by the city? Is it justifiable to dig there? Seems like a vacant lot owned by the city would be the most justifiable vacant lot you could dig.
 

hemihampton

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Messages
9,088
Reaction score
6,089
Points
113
If owned by the City you should get permission by the city, which is not likely due to fear of being sued if hurt. I've dug on city owned property before & have had the Cops pull up saying you need permission from the city. LEON.
 

UncleBruce

BEER DUDE
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
1,718
Reaction score
2,062
Points
113
Location
Show Me State (Missouri)
There is a vacant lot that was cleared many months ago. The building that was there was only probably from the 1950s. But I have found manganese glass and a house on the 1922 Sanborn map. The Sanborn only extended to that street in 1922 so I don’t know exactly how old the house was. The lot is vacant and owned by the city? Is it justifiable to dig there? Seems like a vacant lot owned by the city would be the most justifiable vacant lot you could dig.
Permission is best. Also I like to call Dig Rite ahead of time to be sure I don't interfere with underground utilities. That marking in itself makes an official look. Positive impression given to bystanders and local law enforcement. I know these guys so that also helps. Make friends not enemies. Do it right and permission becomes easier.
 

nhpharm

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2007
Messages
2,966
Reaction score
1,628
Points
113
It's gonna be tricky (almost impossible) based on my experience to get written permission from the city. If it's a small town, maybe. City...likely not unless you have connections. They are very wary of liability. Getting the local historical society involved always helps. Obviously permission is best, but when it is unused city-owned property (usually a seized property of some kind-ie. not a park or something like that), certainly I would say that you are probably OK giving it a quick probe and see if anything sounds interesting. If you find a spot, it's a judgement call at that point. If the police show up and you are friendly and forthcoming, they are just going to ask you to fill in your hole and not come back. If you are comfortable with that interaction, then it might be worth a go.
 

Bohdan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2019
Messages
282
Reaction score
104
Points
43
Location
Prairies of Canada
There is a vacant lot that was cleared many months ago. The building that was there was only probably from the 1950s. But I have found manganese glass and a house on the 1922 Sanborn map. The Sanborn only extended to that street in 1922 so I don’t know exactly how old the house was. The lot is vacant and owned by the city? Is it justifiable to dig there? Seems like a vacant lot owned by the city would be the most justifiable vacant lot you could dig.
If you are like most people and don't like excessive government intrusion into your life - then don't invite it. Sometimes it's just easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.
 

embe

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2019
Messages
740
Reaction score
541
Points
93
Depends how bad you want to get to that spot. I'm not a fan of trespassers...but if you ask permission and they deny...and you still do it anyways...they probably won't go very easy on you
 

relic rescuer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2016
Messages
93
Reaction score
66
Points
18
If you are like most people and don't like excessive government intrusion into your life - then don't invite it. Sometimes it's just easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.
And if enough people do that, they just make digging impossible, for everyone.
 

Members online

Latest threads

Forum statistics

Threads
83,218
Messages
742,906
Members
24,231
Latest member
rrenzi
Top