A too small boundary distance to the neighboring property and branches growing over the fence are a frequent reason for neighborhood disputes. It is not uncommon for these disputes to result in expensive court proceedings. It is therefore highly advisable not only to coordinate the planting with the neighbors, but also to comply with the legal regulations.
The distance between the hedge and the fence depends on the federal state
What is considered a hedge?
Legally, a hedge is a row of shrubs or trees planted so close together that they grow together. For this definition, it is irrelevant whether you decide on a natural hedge or regularly trim the height and width of the enclosure.
Which border distance do I have to keep?
How the green border may be planted is regulated not only by the Civil Code, but also by the neighboring law of your municipality. Depending on the federal state and place of residence, certain distances must be observed, depending on the later height of the plants.
In general it can be said:
- Plants that reach a height of one meter must be placed at least 25 centimeters from the property line.
- From 101 to 150 centimeters in height, a distance of 50 centimeters must be maintained.
- If the hedge is higher than 15 centimeters, you must keep a distance of at least 75 centimeters.
- If the hedge reaches three meters in height, then it must be planted at least one meter from the border.
However, these basic rules may differ depending on where you live:
- In Baden-Württemberg, for example, plantings up to 180 centimeters high must always have a distance of 50 centimeters from the border.
- In Thuringia, the distance rule applies to hedges that are more than 2 meters high: the total height of the bushes minus 125 centimeters results in the planting distance.
- In some federal states such as Brandenburg and Schleswig-Holstein, on the other hand, a ⅓ rule applies. That means: If you divide the later total height of the hedge by three, you get the limit distance that you have to keep.
Due to these inconsistent regulations, it is advisable to contact the municipality before planting a hedge and inquire about the current legal requirements.
Measure limit distance correctly
The property line is measured from the point at which the nearest trunk emerges from the earth. It does not matter whether it is the main stem of the hedge plant or a side shoot. In individual cases, bushes that have many shoots can also be measured from the middle of the bush.
tips
Despite the fact that bamboo is botanically one of the grasses, this plant is classified as a woody plant in terms of the legally applicable border distances. If the tropical plant is to be set as a privacy screen at the property boundary, you must therefore also observe the legal regulations.