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Placing a cache in the street - permission?


EmzyJanezy

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Posted

I have not yet placed a cache of my own, but every time I walk up one of my local streets I see a spot that would be great for a cache.  One of the residents in that street has attached bookshelves to their front fence and offers a book swap, so people can bring a book they have read and swap it for something they haven't read.  I think this would be a great place to put a cache so that more swappers would find out about it.

 

However, being a CO noob, I wondered if any sort of permissions would be required to place a cache under the shelves?  Or on a lamp post close to the shelves?  Would I need to ask the resident / bookshelf owner before I did this?

 

I'm nervous of people so if I would have to knock on her door and ask I'd not be able to do it.  Therefore I was thinking a lamp post close by may be okay, but would I still have to get permission from somewhere?

Posted
6 minutes ago, Max and 99 said:

I would think it best to get permission to place the cache at the bookshelves. Is this a Little Free Library type structure? How do the books stay dry in inclement weather?

 

I don't know what a free library is :wacko:

 

The bookshelves are open.  I guess the books would get a bit wet.  Or maybe the householder brings them inside.  I have no idea lol.

Posted
2 hours ago, EmzyJanezy said:

I don't know what a free library is

 A Free Library is a public accessed library in a street setting, park, or other place people have access.It is a s box on a post, the box being the holder for the books. Some are more elaborately made than others off course. It is maintained by someone, if on a fence on private property surely the person who lives there. Or maybe they gave a person permission to put it there. It contain book etc for people to remove and read, the idea is to replace it with another similar or better book. There are several in my area (Pennysylvania here in the colonies:)) and I know of two that have caches in them. All I know of do have doors to protect the books. I have found both caches I know about. One was very clever, but so I don't spoil that cache I won't say how. I don't have a picture of one, sorry.

Posted

It sounds like a similar thing, although this one is very small and basic - probably holds about ten to 15 books.  It isn't in anybody's front yard, it is attached to the fence on the street side.  Perhaps I could set up a cache close to it on a lamp post or something.

Posted
3 hours ago, EmzyJanezy said:

 

I don't know what a free library is :wacko:

 

The bookshelves are open.  I guess the books would get a bit wet.  Or maybe the householder brings them inside.  I have no idea lol.

 

You have a couple near(ish) you. https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/ https://www.openbookcase.org/map

Here's a photo of one of them:

 

servlet.FileDownload?file=00P0W00000s1al

 

When I travel I like to visit these. Each box is unique and filled with different books. They shouldn't be wet inside if they were built properly and caulked. 

Posted
1 hour ago, EmzyJanezy said:

Perhaps I could set up a cache close to it on a lamp post or something.

In a residential area, the lamp post is still on someone's property. The utilities have an easement (as does the sidewalk), but the property still belongs to someone. And geocaching probably isn't part of what's allowed by the easement.

Posted

Placing caches in residential areas is always tricky.

 

You'd have to get permission first of all. I don't know how easy it would be to get permission to place a cache in/on a street light. Municipalities would probably frown on people tinkering with their street light. I'm guessing that 99-100% of lamp post hides do not have permission. Asking the owner of the Little Free Library would be easier in the long run - they're already wanting people to come and rifle through that bookshelf, so they're probably going to be OK with people coming and looking for a cache there.

 

But besides the permission angle, you have the neighbor angle. Are there houses nearby where people might get jittery if people start hanging out in the area, looking suspicious? If people start frequenting a street light by their side yard, will they think there's a new drug drop or something?

 

Personally, although it sounds harder, I'd get permission from the LFL owner. If you don't want to knock on their door, try leaving a note in the library itself with an explanation and your email address. However, you've got to talk to people eventually. Bite the bullet and knock on the door. :)

  • Upvote 1
Posted

Similar to niraD, not sure how right of ways or easements are in your neck of the woods, but you state that you asked for permission when you check the box for your submitted cache.

The "book shelf owner" attached something they thought fun to their fence. If you want to hide a cache on their property, you need to ask.  :)

Posted
40 minutes ago, niraD said:

In a residential area, the lamp post is still on someone's property. The utilities have an easement (as does the sidewalk), but the property still belongs to someone. And geocaching probably isn't part of what's allowed by the easement.

 

Thanks - so is it correct to assume all the street lamp ones I have found or attempted in the past have permission to be there?  And who would I ask?  The council?

Posted
40 minutes ago, TriciaG said:

Placing caches in residential areas is always tricky.

 

You'd have to get permission first of all. I don't know how easy it would be to get permission to place a cache in/on a street light. Municipalities would probably frown on people tinkering with their street light. I'm guessing that 99-100% of lamp post hides do not have permission. Asking the owner of the Little Free Library would be easier in the long run - they're already wanting people to come and rifle through that bookshelf, so they're probably going to be OK with people coming and looking for a cache there.

 

But besides the permission angle, you have the neighbor angle. Are there houses nearby where people might get jittery if people start hanging out in the area, looking suspicious? If people start frequenting a street light by their side yard, will they think there's a new drug drop or something?

 

Personally, although it sounds harder, I'd get permission from the LFL owner. If you don't want to knock on their door, try leaving a note in the library itself with an explanation and your email address. However, you've got to talk to people eventually. Bite the bullet and knock on the door. :)

 

Ah you've answered some of my questions, so thanks.

 

However, I'm too scared at the moment, so will probably leave it a while.  Until I've had therapy perhaps :D

Posted

You're all right, of course, the ideal thing would be to ask the bookshelf owner.  He or she may be delighted to bring more people to the shelves, or they may hate the idea of having strangers constantly poking around outside day and night.

 

I'll have a think about whether I want to go ahead with it and if I do I think I'll pop a letter through the door.  Until then though … I ponder it over.

 

Thanks everybody :)

Posted
40 minutes ago, EmzyJanezy said:

...so is it correct to assume all the street lamp ones I have found or attempted in the past have permission to be there? 

 

I doubt that too many government officials have ever given permission to attach something to their facilities.  Same goes for store parking lots as well.   

Geotours maybe,  but hopefully they have interesting areas to show the public.  :)

There's a series in another state that has maintenance issues each time the township road crew does repairs.  Hundreds of "caches" and no permission.

If there's an issue because of that placement,  the cache may be archived, but not sure if anything at all is done to the person who lied about permission.

Posted
1 hour ago, EmzyJanezy said:

Thanks - so is it correct to assume all the street lamp ones I have found or attempted in the past have permission to be there?

Not everyone actually gets adequate permission before hiding caches. Some assume permission unless proven otherwise, often using some variant of "the Frisbee rule".

 

For reference:

 

Posted
1 hour ago, EmzyJanezy said:

 

Ah you've answered some of my questions, so thanks.

 

However, I'm too scared at the moment, so will probably leave it a while.  Until I've had therapy perhaps :D

Try leaving a note on the book shelf for the owner explaining what you want to do, I bet you make a new friend

Posted
4 hours ago, EmzyJanezy said:

It sounds like a similar thing, although this one is very small and basic - probably holds about ten to 15 books.  It isn't in anybody's front yard, it is attached to the fence on the street side.  Perhaps I could set up a cache close to it on a lamp post or something.

 

Depending how close the lamp post is to the book shelf, I suspect that most geocachers arriving at GZ would go straight to the book shelf to search for the cache, then search the lamp post.  

 

I  started to write a post this morning but left for work and didn't finish it.  I was also going to suggest leaving a note on the book shelf.  You could print off one of those "What is Geocaching brochures", ask the owner if it would be okay to place a cache there, and leave your email address for them to respond.   

Posted (edited)
8 hours ago, EmzyJanezy said:

You're all right, of course, the ideal thing would be to ask the bookshelf owner.  He or she may be delighted to bring more people to the shelves, or they may hate the idea of having strangers constantly poking around outside day and night.

 

I'll have a think about whether I want to go ahead with it and if I do I think I'll pop a letter through the door.  Until then though … I ponder it over.

 

Thanks everybody :)

 

Maybe if you arrive bearing gifts (books), they might be even more receptive to your geocache idea!

I almost always have a box of books in my trunk to leave at LFL's when I come across them (and I even search them out to waymark!).

Edited by Max and 99
  • Helpful 2
Posted
17 hours ago, Max and 99 said:

 

Maybe if you arrive bearing gifts (books), they might be even more receptive to your geocache idea!

I almost always have a box of books in my trunk to leave at LFL's when I come across them (and I even search them out to waymark!).

 

Excellent idea!  Bringing a few books would be a great icebreaker/conversation starter.  

  • Upvote 1

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