Texas homebuilder says a neighbor claimed he had no permit and called the city. Then the neighbor tells him ‘you need to kind of supervise things’
A video of a contractor being questioned by a neighbor about his own job site has drawn wide attention online. EJ Akeredolu, a Dallas-Fort Worth homebuilder, shared the interaction in a recent Instagram Reel, according to Atlanta Black Star. In the clip, a neighborhood man approaches Akeredolu and claims the contractor lacks the necessary building permits.
The man said he had already called “the city” and demanded information about a tree survey. He pointed out that the area has no homeowners association, which would typically handle these kinds of complaints. Despite this, the neighbor kept offering unsolicited advice on managing the construction site.
The man told him, “When you unload the excavator, you should put plywood down, or you’re going to mess up the street.” He added that it was Akeredolu’s project and that the contractor needed to “kind of supervise things.” Akeredolu reportedly called the man sir throughout the conversation.
The neighbor had a lot of tips for the job
This word choice sparked a debate in the comment section. One person wondered whether the overuse of sir was “totally passive-aggressive and sarcastic,” adding that Akeredolu may not be “really giving them the respect they think he is.” However, others felt the approach was a smart way to de-escalate the situation and keep things professional.
The interaction ended with Akeredolu exchanging phone numbers with the neighbor and a second man nearby, promising to text them the permit. Akeredolu has promised to text the permit to both men, which may settle the dispute before anyone from the city needs to visit the job site.
This isn’t the first time the contractor has faced this, as he has several similar videos on Instagram. He wrote in a caption, “Always make sure your energy is right,” especially in the morning.
A tree survey is a real thing in Dallas, just not for every lot
The neighbor’s question isn’t as random as it sounds, since Dallas regulates protected trees under its tree conservation rules. Lots under two acres with a single-family home are generally exempt from tree removal permits. However, the city treats a lot as vacant once it issues a demolition permit, which brings its protected trees under the ordinance.
Removing protected trees from a vacant lot generally requires a tree survey listing each tree’s species, trunk size, and location, according to the city’s arborists. As Akeredolu does demolition work, a survey could plausibly come up on his builds, though the city has not reported this project.
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