Elon Musk may have legions of admirers worldwide, but residents of the upscale West Lake Hills neighborhood in Austin, Texas, aren’t exactly thrilled about their high-profile neighbor, according to The New York Times.
Tensions flared after Musk purchased a $6 million property in 2022 and his team erected a 16-foot chain-link fence, installed a metal gate, and mounted outward-facing surveillance cameras—all without securing proper permits.
Paul Hemmer, a retired real estate agent, Tesla owner, and president of the local homeowners association, described the property as “Fort Knox.” He and other neighbors are concerned about the noticeable presence of armed security guards and their vehicles, which have disrupted the once-quiet street.
Adding to the frustration is Musk’s reputation for bypassing regulations. “If you follow him in the news, he always builds first and asks for permission later,” Hemmer said during a recent planning meeting.
The dispute took a personal turn when Musk’s security team reportedly called the police on Hemmer, alleging he was naked in the street. Hemmer insists he was merely on his own property in his underwear and says he had been flying drones over Musk’s home to check for code violations.
