ᐅ Fencing - Are hedges or privacy screens allowed?

Hello forum,

My partner and I are planning to build a house. We have a good chance of acquiring a plot of land in the coming weeks. However, we have a question regarding the zoning plan about fencing.

One of the preferred plots in the new development area borders a footpath running between two properties. Naturally, we would like to have some privacy screening on the property, as close to the boundary as possible to avoid making the plot look smaller.

The zoning plan states:

Fencing:
Allowed are wooden fences, metal fences, or hedges up to 0.80 m (31.5 inches) high above the public paved areas, at a minimum distance of 0.50 m (20 inches) from these areas. Fencing must be constructed without a base to avoid creating barriers for small mammals. Chain-link fences are not permitted along the paved public areas.
Regarding the required setback distances, the road law and neighbor law apply.

If I want to build a hedge or another privacy screen higher than 0.8 m (31.5 inches), how far back do I have to be?
The neighbor law presumably does not apply here, since the public footpath separates the properties. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any relevant information in the road law.

If it’s really not possible to install any kind of screening, the plot would unfortunately be out of the question. We don’t want to enclose just the terrace.

Can anyone help with this?

Thanks and best regards
Nico

Honest opinion. Just do it. No one will complain if the hedge is 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. Or set it back 2 meters (6.5 feet), then they really can’t do anything about it anyway.

Nico238 schrieb:

One of the preferred plots in the new residential area borders a footpath that runs between two plots.

Is the footpath frequently used, or is it more like a kind of "no-man’s land" that no one really enters? (The latter would actually be an advantage.)

Nico238 schrieb:

If you want to build a hedge or any other type of privacy screen taller than 0.8 m (2.5 ft), how far back would I have to stay?

I can’t say much about other types of privacy screens, but a hedge taller than 0.8 m (2.5 ft) probably won’t be regularly checked. And you can never really predict how tall hedges will grow. ;-) Plan B would be to trim it if a local authority actually inspects it. Plan C would be to choose bee- and insect-friendly hedges, so you have a stronger argument in discussions with the authorities.

Nico238 schrieb:

If you really can’t put up any kind of protection there, unfortunately that plot would be off the table.

Are there good alternatives to that plot?

Bookstar schrieb:

Honest opinion. Just do it. No one will complain if the hedge is 2 m (6.5 feet) high. Or set it back 2 m (6.5 feet), then they can’t do anything anyway.

But we would really prefer not to give up that 2 m (6.5 feet). Behind it is truly nobody’s land.

Pinkiponk schrieb:

Is the footpath frequently used, or is it more like a kind of “no man’s land” that no one really enters? (I would consider the latter an advantage.)

This will be the exit from the new residential area for everyone who wants to take a walk towards the fields.
So there will definitely be activity.

Pinkiponk schrieb:

Are there good alternatives to this plot?

The one right next to it, for example. Not in the direction of the footpath, but the other way.
Same dimensions, same unobstructed view towards the west. On the edge of town.

Unfortunately, it’s not a case of “wish for whatever you want” 😀

A rough rule of thumb is to recess one meter for every additional meter. I’m not exactly sure though.

Check whether the path is actually public space or just part of the new development area, meaning common property. I think there are differences. I would avoid plan B or C because they tend to cause headaches and trouble.
However, I doubt anyone would check the meter down to the centimeter 😉