Virginia Dad Livid After Landlord Bans 'Graffiti' Sidewalk Chalk

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — Kyle Sutton has three kids, ages 12, 7, and 3, who like to draw. So when his children weren't allowed inside their apartment unit in Virginia Beach — a mold guy was coming to inspect the complex — they did what many American youths would do: they grabbed some chalk and went to town on the sidewalk.

"They had a hopscotch board. One of my sons started to draw an Incredible Hulk and my daughter drew the other half of it. They pretty much shared that drawing. They drew a bouquet of balloons that were different colors. And they drew their names, bedazzled their names," Sutton told Patch on Wednesday.

Days later, Sutton, a 28-year-old welder, was stopped by his wife as he walked into his complex at the Carolanne Terrace Apartments. Management had posted a thinly veiled threat on the door: "Dear Tenants: We have received complaints about children drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. This is considered graffiti and will not be allowed."

The notice said the parents of kids caught using the illicit materials would face a fine of at least $20 to remove the "graffiti." The notice also referenced a section of the lease that said the landlord could evict tenants for objectionable conduct and unlawful.

Sutton couldn't believe it.

"Honestly when I read it, I kind of just sighed in disbelief and rolled my eyes," he said.

Sutton has been living at the complex for half a decade and has never received any complaints about his children's chalk use. He said he's the only tenant with kids in his building, which has eight units, and that his family was obviously the lone target. When he asked people in other buildings if they'd received the ominous signage, they all said no.

A manager at the building told WTKR-TV they received five complaints Monday and reports that some vulgarities were used. The manager said the policy isn't new — drawing on the sidewalk has always been banned, but it wasn't strictly enforced.

A message left with management wasn't immediately returned.

When asked about the alleged vulgarities, Sutton was adamant his children did not draw any obscenities or offensive pictures. He even asked them point blank. His 7-year-old son, Miles, denied drawing anything "bad."

"Why would I do that? The FBI would come," Miles told his father.

Sutton said they don't think the complaints are real and that the manager's accusation was fabricated. Furthermore, he thinks the policy itself is ridiculous.

"Washable chalk is not graffiti," Sutton said. "It's ridiculous. Graffiti is considered a permanent tag. Chalk isn't a permanent tag. A cup of hot water washes it off."

Sutton said if management felt sidewalk drawings were such a big deal, he'd get a bucket of water to wash them off (just as soon as they unlock the water spigots). He plans to move in the spring and will — reluctantly — abide by the policy, even if he doesn't like it.

"I would like to go out there right now and draw the coolest stuff I can possibly draw cause I'm an artist," Sutton said. "But the responsible, grown-up father that I am, I'm going to have to abide by their little threat. We won't continue to draw chalk here."

Lead photo credit: Shutterstock

Secondary photo credit: Kyle Sutton, used with permission