Elon Musk is making enemies in Austin: armed security, cameras, and neighborhood chaos

Elon Musk began moving most of his business operations from California to Texas around 2021 seeking lower taxes. The following year he bought a house in West Lake Hills, an upscale suburb roughly 15 minutes outside downtown Austin, and quietly moved in.

However, he started making modifications to the property including a 16-foot chain-link fence, a metal gate and installed an outward-facing camera that drew the ire of his neighbors. Additionally, the quiet cul-de-sac became a hub of activity with cars coming and going at all times of the day and night including visibly armed security personnel.

Musk’s infractions end up in front of Zoning and Planning Commission

“I call that place Fort Knox,” said Paul Hemmer, a neighbor who lives across the street and is president of the neighborhood homeowners association speaking to The New York Times. He and other neighbors took their beef about Musk’s house and the disturbances to the Zoning and Planning Commission.

It turns out that no permits were obtained to put up the metal gate and the fence, which is 10 feet taller than what local ordinances allow. In total, he racked up six violations of city ordinances.

His team have since tried to get retroactive permission, but the six commissioners on the West Lake Hills Zoning and Planning Commission voted unanimously against giving Musk exceptions.

It will now be up to the City Council to decide during a meeting on 14 May. If they vote against him, he would have to tear down the fence and gate or modify them to comply with the city ordinances.

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