Atlanta property owner claims after spending $200K on his home to sell, the city wrongfully demolished one of its walls — and he can’t seem to get answers as to why they did it

"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.

Property owner searches for answers on destruction

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.

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.