Falls Church Tree House May Get The Ax

Written by Lindsey Mastis
6:23 PM, Oct 10, 2011

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (WUSA) -- A tree house is causing controversy in one Falls Church neighborhood after a father built it for his two young boys. Fairfax County officials are considering tearing it down because the tree house violates county rules because it was built in the front yard. He needed a permit first to build the tree house.

Mark Grapin says he didn't know about that rule until after he built it. He spent nearly $2,000 trying to make it legal. His sons helped him build the treehouse.

Last month he says the board voted against him in a hearing, meaning the tree house will have to come down. The family will appeal. The boys are making their plea to the board. Their next hearing is November 30th and many neighbors are hoping that the tree house will get to stay put.