Three gardens on a small suburban street make noise at the same time. People look over their fences at their neighbours, acting like they’re not looking, but everyone is really looking at the hedge next door. Since February 15, those familiar green walls have become a legal issue. Now, any hedge that is more than 2 meters tall and is planted within 50 centimetres of a property line must be cut back.
Hedges that are taller than 2 meters will be cut down starting on February 19.
Hedges that are taller than 2 meters will be cut down starting on February 19 No one wants to be the neighbour who gets in trouble with the town hall.
Still, a lot of homeowners are going to find out that their hedge is not just “slightly tall,” but actually against the rules.
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From Privacy Shield to a Legal Headache in a Day
The rule seems simple at first: starting on 19 February, hedges that are more than 2 meters high and less than 50 cm from a neighbor’s property line must be cut. It looks safe on paper. In reality, it hits the core of suburban life: privacy.
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For a lot of families, a hedge is more than just a pretty thing.
It hides the terrace, the kids’ pool and the messy washing line. Even losing half a metre of height can make you feel like you’re exposing your daily life to the street and windows nearby.
Claire, who is 47 years old, lives in a semi-detached house with a classic photinia hedge along the fence.
The bushes were only about shoulder height when she moved in ten years ago. Today, they make a thick wall of red and green that is three meters high.
The neighbour on her right took the shade and was happy to avoid putting up a fence.
The neighbour 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 events.
A tall hedge that is too close to a boundary can block light, make things wet, put pressure on roots, and cause fights. 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 walls that are starting to crack.
The 2-meter height and 50-centimeter distance limits are meant to strike a balance between the right to plant and the right to enjoy one’s property.
A kind of green peace agreement that is now being followed more closely than it was before.
Getting the right measurements, trimming 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 tall, 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 centimetres tall.
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135 fine warning for gardeners who use rainwater without permission starting January 18. Planning is easier once you have the right measurements. In many cases, cutting the hedge back to 1.80–1.90 meters makes it look better and keeps you safe from the law.
A lot of people make the mistake of waiting until a neighbour complains or a letter from the town hall comes.
By then, things are already tense. In small towns, a simple hedge problem 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 often helps to ask them if they want more light or more privacy. A fifteen-minute awkward conversation can stop months of anger.
People often make too much of the penalties they see online.
Even though there are sanctions and authorities can make people work or fine them if they don’t, most town halls still put talking over punishment first.
“People think of garden police with rulers,” says one city mediator.
In reality, we get called in when relationships between neighbours have already broken down. The hedge is just a sign of something else.
Before cutting, measure, not after
Take pictures before and after. Make a note of the date and kind of work done. Offer to show your neighbour the result.
If you’re not sure about the rules in your area, ask the town hall.
Living by the Rule: Everyday Life, Privacy, and the Law. 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 our personal lives come together: how we keep our private space safe.
Let’s be honest.
Not many people get 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 willing to give up some light and space, or do we hold on 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 slightly shorter hedge with a light screen, or you could trim more aggressively where the windows are closest.
Everyone has had that moment when they pretend not to 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 realise 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. Others will take the time to rethink the plants they use to mark the edges of their gardens.
Important Points to Remember
Legal limits: If your hedges are taller than 2 meters and less than 50 cm from a neighbour, you may get formal requests and penalties. This can help you spot risks early.
