A border distance that is too small from the neighboring property and branches growing over the fence are a common reason for neighbor disputes. These disputes often result in expensive legal proceedings. It is therefore strongly advisable not only to coordinate the planting with the neighbors, but also to adhere to the legal regulations.
What distance do I have to keep from the fence when planting a hedge?
How big the distance should be for planting a hedge from the fence depends on the eventual height of the hedge. The following distances apply: 25 cm for hedges up to 1 meter, 50 cm for hedges up to 1.5 meters, 75 cm for hedges up to 2 meters and 1 meter for hedges over 3 meters high. Regional regulations may vary.
What is considered a hedge?
Legally speaking, a hedge is a row of shrubs or trees that have been planted so close together that they grow together. For this definition, it is irrelevant whether you choose a natural hedge or regularly trim the height and width of the fence.
What limit distance do I have to keep?
How the green border can be planted is regulated by the neighboring law of your community in addition to the BGB. Depending on the federal state and place of residence, certain distances must be maintained depending on the eventual height of the plants.
In general it can be said:
- Plants that reach a height of one meter must be planted 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 maintain a distance of at least 75 centimeters.
- If the hedge reaches a height of three meters, it must be planted at least one meter from the border.
However, these basic rules may vary depending on where you live:
- In Baden-Württemberg, for example, plantings up to 180 centimeters high must always be 50 centimeters away from the border.
- In Thuringia, the distance rule applies to hedges over 2 meters high: the total height of the bushes minus 125 centimeters equals the planting distance.
- In some federal states such as Brandenburg and Schleswig-Holstein, however, a ⅓ regulation applies. This means: If you divide the future total height of the hedge by three, you get the limit distance that you must adhere to.
Due to these inconsistent regulations, it is advisable to contact the municipality and find out the current legal requirements before planting a hedge.
Measure limit distance correctly
The property boundary is measured from the point at which the trunk closest to the border emerges from the ground. It doesn't matter whether it is the main stem of the hedge plant or a secondary shoot. In individual cases, for bushes that have many shoots, measurements can also be taken from the middle of the bush.
Tip
Despite the fact that bamboo is botanically a grass, this plant is classified as a woody plant in terms of the boundary distances applicable under neighboring law. If the tropical plant is to be planted as a privacy screen at the property boundary, you must also observe the legal regulations.
