A statue of Fred Flintstone stands near the front entryway of the Flintstone House. Photo / AP
A statue of Fred Flintstone stands near the front entryway of the Flintstone House. Photo / AP
Fred Flintstone fought the law — and he won.
Technically, the owner of the fanciful Flintstones house in a posh San Francisco suburb settled a lawsuit with the town of Hillsborough. But the agreement will allow Fred and his friends to remain.
In a yabba dabba dispute that pitted propertyrights against government rules that played out in international media, retired publishing mogul Florence Fang defended her colourful, bulbous-shaped house and its elaborate homage to The Flintstones family, featuring Stone Age sculptures inspired by the 1960s cartoon, along with aliens and other oddities.
The Flintstone House is seen before a news conference with the owner and the home's original architect in Hillsborough. Photo / AP
The town, however, called the towering dinosaurs and life-size sculptures "a highly visible eyesore" and sued Fang, alleging she violated local codes when she put dinosaur sculptures in the backyard and made other landscaping changes that caused local officials to declare it a public nuisance.
An attorney for the town previously said residents are required to get a permit before installing such sculptures, regardless of the theme.
Hillsborough went to court in 2019 after Fang failed to comply with multiple stop-work orders, as well as an order to remove the features around the multimillion-dollar property with its 254sq m home. Fang counter-sued. The Daily Post in Palo Alto first reported news of the settlement on Thursday.
Florence Fang talks with reporters after a news conference outside her Flintstone House in Hillsborough. Photo / AP
Mark Hudak, an attorney for Hillsborough, previously said the town prides itself on its rural, woodsy feel, and rules are in place "so neighbours don't have to look at your version of what you would like to have, and you don't have to look at theirs."
Barney and Betty Rubble stand outside the Flintstone House in Hillsborough. Photo / AP
According to records, the settlement stipulates that the town will review and approve a survey of the landscaping improvements. In turn, Fang will apply for building permits. The town will also pay Fang $125,000, and she will drop the lawsuit — which was dismissed in state court on April 27.
