ᐅ Is it allowed to place privacy screens anywhere on your own property?
Created on: 13 Mar 2021 10:21
K
kati1337
Hello everyone,
I have the following situation: Last year, around the time we moved, we talked with our neighbors and agreed to plant a hedge along the property boundary for enclosure. In principle, I still have no objection to that; the hedge can definitely be planted right on the boundary.
However, a few days ago, the neighbors installed a shed along the boundary. It is quite a large structure made of silver corrugated metal. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but it’s not exactly the view we want to have while having breakfast on our terrace.
I would now like to build a wooden privacy fence on our side of the property, something with a trellis for climbing plants, and plant greenery in front of it so that when looking toward that corner, we see a nice garden instead of the metal.
Am I allowed to do this without any issues? Are there any minimum distances I have to keep? I’ve attached a sketch where I have marked the metal shed in gray and the desired privacy fence in yellow. Of course, I wouldn’t do this without discussing it again with the neighbors first, but I would like to know where I stand legally. I haven’t been able to find much information online, only about enclosures with fences.
I have the following situation: Last year, around the time we moved, we talked with our neighbors and agreed to plant a hedge along the property boundary for enclosure. In principle, I still have no objection to that; the hedge can definitely be planted right on the boundary.
However, a few days ago, the neighbors installed a shed along the boundary. It is quite a large structure made of silver corrugated metal. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but it’s not exactly the view we want to have while having breakfast on our terrace.
I would now like to build a wooden privacy fence on our side of the property, something with a trellis for climbing plants, and plant greenery in front of it so that when looking toward that corner, we see a nice garden instead of the metal.
Am I allowed to do this without any issues? Are there any minimum distances I have to keep? I’ve attached a sketch where I have marked the metal shed in gray and the desired privacy fence in yellow. Of course, I wouldn’t do this without discussing it again with the neighbors first, but I would like to know where I stand legally. I haven’t been able to find much information online, only about enclosures with fences.
Schimi179113 Mar 2021 13:39kati1337 schrieb:
...
The downside would be that the seating area is so close to the neighboring property. And we would have to walk further from the kitchen to the terrace.
...It’s not meant to be a permanent seating area anyway, just an option to vary things occasionally, if the mood strikes. In that sense, the corrugated iron shed might still serve a purpose—not only for the neighbors but also as privacy screening for you.Joedreck schrieb:
There can be more than one place to sit. Maybe a small fire basket for wine evenings.
...Exactly 🙂ypg schrieb:
...
... but a nice second seating spot.That’s what I mean. I would still cover the corrugated iron wall with plants—in particular, the privacy screen wall. Hops might be suitable for that. A roof or canopy would also make sense. Of course, nothing too flashy 🙂We’re planning something similar ourselves. Right now, we have a huge hedge of conifers which will have to be removed soon because it stands too close to the neighbor’s property.
Joedreck schrieb:
There can definitely be more than one seating area. Maybe a small fire pit for wine evenings.
Otherwise, as long as the shed doesn’t bother you fundamentally, you could build a privacy screen there and grow climbing plants on it. At least at the usual height. Yes, that was the idea. It doesn’t bother me that they have a shed; I just don’t like looking at it. 😉
But the problem can be solved on my own property. Whether we’ll build a seating area there remains to be seen. For now, I’d like to plant some bushes in that corner along the noise barrier. Something that fits the adjectives "green, attractive, affordable." 😉
Joedreck schrieb:
There can certainly be more than one seating area. Maybe a small fire basket for wine evenings.
Otherwise, if the shed itself doesn’t bother you, you can build a privacy screen there and grow climbing plants on it. At a usual height, of course.A fire basket is great, the sparks should elegantly solve the shed problem 😀Schimi179113 Mar 2021 14:08I believe corrugated steel is relatively resistant to sparks. Also, not all "fire pits" are the same. I could also imagine a covered barbecue area there.
Bookstar schrieb:
The fire basket is great; the sparks will elegantly solve the cabin problem 😀Just yesterday, I read the short story "Ash Monday" by T.C. Boyle. It seems very fitting here.Schimi1791 schrieb:
I think corrugated metal is relatively resistant to sparks. Imagine the neighbors build an unauthorized wooden shed right on the property boundary, you set up a fire pit that complies with all legal requirements, and their shed catches fire from stray sparks. I believe any insurance company would deny liability in that case. This isn’t meant as a topic change—it’s still about corrugated metal—but it’s quite an issue.
The proper approach would have been for the neighbors to install a green boundary fence and then place the shed at least 3 meters (10 feet) away. That would have prevented the problem.