On a calm 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 on a small street in the suburbs. People look over their fences at their neighbors, but really, everyone is looking at the hedge next door. Since February 25, the well-known green barriers have become a legal issue. If a hedge is more than 2 meters tall and is planted within 50 centimeters of a property line, it needs to be cut back.
Nobody wants to be the neighbor who gets in trouble with the town hall.
But many homeowners are about to learn that their hedge isn’t just “a little tall”; it’s actually against the rules.
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At first, the rule seems easy: hedges that are more than 2 meters tall and less than 50 cm from a neighbor’s property line must be cut back on February 25. On paper, it looks safe. In reality, it gets to the heart of suburban life: privacy.
A hedge is more than just a decoration for a lot of families. It hides the terrace, the kids’ pool, and the clothesline that looks bad. If you lose even half a meter of height, it can feel like the street and windows nearby can see what you’re doing every day.
Claire, who is 47, lives in a semi-detached house with a classic photinia hedge along the fence. When she moved in ten years ago, the bushes were only as high as her shoulders. They now form a thick wall of red and green that is three meters tall.
The neighbor on her right took the shade and was glad they didn’t have to put up a fence. The neighbor on the left wasn’t as forgiving and complained every spring about branches that were leaning over. After the rule went into effect on February 25, he printed it out and put it in her mailbox with a note that said, “We need to talk.”
There is a simple truth behind these normal things that happen every day. A tall hedge that is too close to a boundary can cause shade, dampness, root pressure, and fights that happen a lot. 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 show up in low walls.
The 50-centimeter distance and 2-meter height limits are there to protect both the right to plant and the right to enjoy your property. A peace agreement that is now getting more attention than ever.
Taking the right measurements, cutting the right way, and not getting into trouble
Before you start to worry, do something simple: measure your hedge. Find out how far the highest branch is from the ground. If it is more than 2 meters, measure the distance from the bottom of the hedge to the official boundary, which could be a fence, wall, or cadastral line. If the hedge is less than 50 centimeters tall, it is in the risk zone.
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Having the right measurements makes planning easier. A lot of the time, trimming the hedge back to 1.80 to 1.90 meters makes it look better and keeps you out of trouble with the law.
A lot of people make the mistake of waiting until a neighbor complains or they get a letter from the town hall. At that point, things are already tense. In small towns, a small problem with a hedge can turn into a standoff that lasts for years.
It’s much better to talk early. A short talk about how you’ve seen the new rule and plan to cut back can change everything. It can be helpful to ask them if they want more light or more privacy. A fifteen-minute awkward talk can end months of anger.
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When people talk about penalties online, they often make them sound worse than they are. Most town halls still like talking to people instead of punishing them, even though there are punishments and officials can make people work or fine them if they don’t.
One city mediator says, “People think of garden police with rulers.” We are called in when relationships with neighbors have already broken down, though. The hedge is just a sign that something isn’t right.
- Before you cut, measure. Take pictures before and after.
- Make a note of the date and type of work done.
- Ask your neighbor if they want to see the result.
- If you’re not sure what the rules are in your area, ask the town hall.
After the first cut, the garden often feels different. More open. Sometimes, even in plain sight. Some homeowners find a sunset that has been hidden for years, while others suddenly feel like their neighbor is watching them from the kitchen. This is where rules and personal space meet: how we keep our private space safe.
Let’s be honest. Not a lot of people get out a tape measure and a legal document every time they start their lawnmower.
The new focus around February 25 makes me think of a question that has been put off for a long time. Are we ready to give up some light and space, or do we keep a tall wall of plants even when it breaks the rules? There is room for both official rules and real life to work together. You could have a hedge that is a little shorter and a light screen, or you could cut the hedge more where the windows are closest.
You know that time when you pretend you don’t see the branch clearly reaching into your neighbor’s yard?
There will probably be measuring tapes, quotes from gardeners, and quiet talks over coffee by the fence in the next few months. Some people will find out 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 use this time to think about the plants in their garden and replace them with lighter, better ones.
There is always a messy, human middle ground between what the law says and how people actually live. There are answers to most questions there.
A quick summary of the main points
Legal limits: If your hedge is taller than 2 meters and less than 50 cm from a neighbor, you may get formal requests and fines. This can help you find risks early on.
To avoid problems and show good faith, make sure you get the right measurements, cut the work to a safe height, keep records of it, and talk to your neighbors.
Use the rule as a reason to talk again instead of making things worse. This will help you avoid conflict. This will keep your garden private and also keep your relationships with your neighbors strong.
