On a quiet Sunday morning in February, the sound of birds singing is suddenly drowned out by the sound of electric trimmers. The noise comes from three gardens at once on a small street in the suburbs. People look over their fences at their neighbors, pretending not to stare, but everyone is really looking at the hedge next door. The familiar green barriers have become a legal pressure point since February 15. If a hedge is taller than 2 meters and is planted within 50 centimeters of a property line, it must be cut back.
No one wants to be the neighbor who gets in trouble with the town hall.
Still, a lot of homeowners are about to find out that their hedge isn’t just “a little tall,” it’s actually against the rules.
From Privacy Shield to Legal Headache in a Day
The rule seems simple at first: hedges that are more than 2 meters high and less than 50 cm from a neighbor’s property line must be cut back starting on February 15. It seems safe on paper. In reality, it goes straight to the heart of suburban life: privacy.
For a lot of families, a hedge is more than just a decoration. It hides the terrace, the kids’ pool, and the messy clothesline. If you lose even half a meter of height, it can feel like you’re letting the street and nearby windows see your daily life.
Claire, who is 47 years old, lives in a semi-detached house with a classic photinia hedge along the fence. The bushes were only shoulder-high when she moved in ten years ago. Today, they make up a thick wall of red and green that is three meters tall.
Her neighbor on the right took the shade and was happy to not have to put up a fence. The neighbor on the left was less forgiving and complained every spring about branches that were leaning over. After the February 15 enforcement, he printed out the rule and put it in her mailbox with a note that said, “We need to talk.”
There is a simple truth behind these everyday moments. A tall hedge that is too close to a boundary can cause shade, dampness, root pressure, and fights that happen often. Town halls and mediation services deal with the same problems over and over again: gardens that don’t get enough sun, gutters that are full of leaves, and cracks that appear in low walls.
The 2-meter height and 50-centimeter distance limits are meant to protect both the right to plant and the right to enjoy one’s property. A green peace agreement that is now being taken more seriously than ever.
Getting the right measurements, cutting the right way, and staying out of trouble
Before you start to worry, take a simple step: measure your hedge. Measure the distance from the ground to the highest branch. If it is more than 2 meters, measure the distance from the base of the hedge to the official boundary, which could be a fence, wall, or cadastral line. The hedge is in the risk zone if it is less than 50 centimeters tall.
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Planning is easier once you have the right measurements. In a lot of cases, cutting the hedge back to 1.80 to 1.90 meters makes it look better and keeps you safe from the law.
A common mistake is to wait until a neighbor complains or a letter from the town hall arrives. By that time, things are already tense. In small towns, a simple hedge problem can turn into a standoff that lasts for years.
Talking early is much better. A short talk about how you’ve seen the new rule and plan to cut back can change everything. It often helps to ask them if they want more light or more privacy. A fifteen-minute awkward talk can stop months of anger.
People often make too much of penalties when they talk about them online. Even though there are sanctions and officials can make people work or fine them if they don’t, most town halls still prefer talking to punishing people.
“People think of garden police with rulers,” says one city mediator. In reality, we get called in when relationships with neighbors have already broken down. The hedge is just a sign that something is wrong.
- Measure before cutting, not after. Take pictures before and after.
- Write down the date and kind of work done
- Offer to show your neighbor the result.
- If you’re not sure about the rules in your area, ask the town hall.
The garden often feels different after the first cut. More open. Sometimes even out in the open. Some homeowners find a sunset that has been hidden for years, while others suddenly feel like they are being watched from the neighbor’s kitchen. This is where rules and personal space meet: how we keep our private space safe.
Let’s be real. Not many people take out a tape measure and a legal document every time they start the lawnmower.
The renewed focus around February 15 brings up a question that has been put off for a long time. Are we ready to give up some light and space, or do we stick to a tall wall of plants even when it breaks the rules? There is room for compromise between official rules and everyday life. For example, you could have a hedge that is a little shorter and a light screen, or you could trim the hedge more aggressively where the windows are closest.
Everyone knows that time when you act like you don’t see the branch clearly reaching into the neighbor’s yard.
In the next few months, there will probably be measuring tapes, quotes from gardeners, and quiet talks over coffee by the fence. Some people will realize too late that their three-meter cedar hedge, which is only 20 cm from the line, is no longer just a hedge, but a problem for everyone. Some people will take this time to rethink the plants they have in their garden and replace them with lighter, more appropriate ones.
There is always a messy, human middle ground between what the law says and how people really live. Most answers can be found there.
Quick Summary of Important Points
Legal limits: Hedges that are taller than 2 meters and planted less than 50 cm from a neighbor may get formal demands and fines. This can help you spot risks early.
To avoid conflict and show good faith, take accurate measurements, cut the work to a safe height, keep records of it, and talk to your neighbors.
To avoid conflict, use the rule as a reason to start talking again instead of making things worse. This will protect both your garden’s privacy and your relationships with your neighbors.
