As of: February 23, 2024, 9:29 a.m
By: Andrea Stettner
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Hedges absorb a lot of light, which doesn't please every resident.
How high the vegetation can be on the neighboring property is precisely regulated.
An evergreen hedge, be it the popular thuja or the controversial cherry laurel, protects residents from intrusive looks and brings color into the garden without taking up a lot of space.
Unfortunately, tall hedges also cast long shadows, to the chagrin of the neighbors.
Some residents are therefore bothered by the high hedge growth on the neighboring property.
The good news: A hedge cannot grow as high as it wants.
However, exactly how high and what distances from the property boundary must be maintained are not uniformly stipulated in Germany.
Where is the hedge height regulated?
How high can the neighbor's hedge be?
© imago/blickwinkel
The legal basis for the permitted hedge height is regulated in four places: in the Civil Code (§§ 903 - 924 BGB), in the state neighborhood law, in the state building regulations and in the local statutes.
A large part of the regulations regarding hedge vegetation are regulated by the federal states and the respective municipality.
For example, when it comes to the minimum distances between trees and bushes from the property line, or the height of hedges and their design.
So if your neighbor's hedge is taking away too much light or you want to create a new hedge yourself, it's best to ask your municipality about the applicable regulations.
In addition, neighborhood rights can be documented in the land register, which are transferred to the next owner when the house is sold.
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Table: This is the maximum height the hedge can be
In general, hedges may not be planted directly on the property line (exception: a common hedge is planted), but must maintain a certain minimum distance from the property line.
As a rule, this distance is at least 50 cm if the planting is not higher than two meters.
The further away the hedge is from this boundary, the higher it can grow.
However, there may be regional differences in height and distance.
The following table shows which hedge heights and minimum distances are set across the individual federal states.
Federal State |
Height of the hedge |
Limit distance to neighbors |
|---|---|---|
Baden-Württemberg |
max. 180 cm |
at least 50 cm |
over 1.80 cm |
50 cm + additional height in cm |
|
Bavaria |
max. 200 cm |
50cm |
over 200cm |
over 200cm |
|
Berlin |
max. 200 cm |
50cm |
over 200cm |
at least 100 cm |
|
Brandenburg |
at least a third of the total height of the hedge |
|
Bremen |
No neighbor rights law |
|
Hamburg |
No neighbor rights law |
|
Hesse |
up to 120 cm |
25cm |
up to 200 cm |
50cm |
|
over 200cm |
75cm |
|
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
No neighbor rights law |
|
Lower Saxony |
up to 120 cm |
25cm |
up to 200 cm |
50cm |
|
over 200cm |
75cm |
|
North Rhine-Westphalia |
max. 200 cm |
50cm |
over 200cm |
at least 100 cm |
|
Rhineland-Palatinate |
up to 100 cm |
25cm |
up to 150 cm |
50cm |
|
up to 200 cm |
75cm |
|
Saarland |
up to 100 cm |
25cm |
up to 150 cm |
50cm |
|
over 150cm |
75cm |
|
Saxony |
max. 200 cm |
50cm |
over 200cm |
over 200cm |
|
Saxony-Anhalt |
up to 150 cm |
50cm |
up to 300 cm |
100cm |
|
Schleswig-Holstein |
up to 120 cm |
no regulations |
over 120cm |
at least a third of the total height |
|
Thuringia |
up to 100 cm |
25cm |
up to 150 cm |
50cm |
|
up to 200 cm |
75cm |
|
over 200cm |
Height in cm minus 125 gives the limit distance |
Source: wohnglueck.de
What happens if the hedge is too high?
If your neighbor's hedge exceeds the permitted height, you can request that he cut it back.
However, this right expires if the statute of limitations, which exists in some federal states, has been exceeded (usually five years).
If your neighbor's hedge has always been so high, you have little chance of cutting it back.
By the way, hedges are not allowed to be cut all year round - cutting the hedge at the wrong time can result in a hefty fine.
And other gardening work, such as trimming trees, can also be expensive.
By the way, you yourself must also adhere to the applicable regulations regarding hedge height, otherwise your neighbor may claim the same height according to a ruling by the Koblenz Regional Court (AZ 13 S 6/20).