Good evening,
My neighbor recently renovated an older house with a plot size of about 1000 square meters (about 10,764 square feet) and paved his driveway and parts of his property. It is a large paved area of more than 100 square meters (about 1,076 square feet).
From what I can see, the freshly laid paving is sloped towards my property (away from his house but also away from the garden behind it).
There is no drainage channel on any side of the paved area, which surprised me a lot.
The distance between the paved area and my property boundary is about 30–50 cm (12–20 inches). It also seems that this is not permeable paving (this is initially only an assumption on my part that would need to be confirmed).
Questions:
As someone who has unfortunately experienced heavy rainfall events (my property also slopes down toward a basement entrance that has flooded multiple times), I am concerned that during heavy rain, due to the large impermeable surface on my neighbor’s property, despite the 30–40 cm (12–16 inches) distance, the runoff water may not remain on his property but instead flow onto mine.
My neighbor recently renovated an older house with a plot size of about 1000 square meters (about 10,764 square feet) and paved his driveway and parts of his property. It is a large paved area of more than 100 square meters (about 1,076 square feet).
From what I can see, the freshly laid paving is sloped towards my property (away from his house but also away from the garden behind it).
There is no drainage channel on any side of the paved area, which surprised me a lot.
The distance between the paved area and my property boundary is about 30–50 cm (12–20 inches). It also seems that this is not permeable paving (this is initially only an assumption on my part that would need to be confirmed).
Questions:
- Is it allowed to pave such a large area without a drainage channel to the sewer?
- Is the neighbor allowed to lay the paving with a slope towards my property?
- Are there setback distances that need to be observed?
As someone who has unfortunately experienced heavy rainfall events (my property also slopes down toward a basement entrance that has flooded multiple times), I am concerned that during heavy rain, due to the large impermeable surface on my neighbor’s property, despite the 30–40 cm (12–16 inches) distance, the runoff water may not remain on his property but instead flow onto mine.
N
nordanney16 Apr 2026 20:57Regarding 1: It depends. Is there a local ordinance, a zoning plan, or any other regulations? Usually, proper drainage is required, and water must not simply be allowed to run off uncontrolled.
Regarding 2: Yes, he is allowed to do that. However, he must not drain onto your property – so a channel or gutter should be installed beforehand.
Regarding 3: Paths, driveways, and parking spaces typically do not require setback distances. The question is whether he is even permitted to seal that much surface area.
Regarding 2: Yes, he is allowed to do that. However, he must not drain onto your property – so a channel or gutter should be installed beforehand.
Regarding 3: Paths, driveways, and parking spaces typically do not require setback distances. The question is whether he is even permitted to seal that much surface area.
N
nordanney16 Apr 2026 21:31Ok. But at the very least, it must not drain onto your property under any circumstances.
Is there a sewage system for rainwater available?
Is there a sewage system for rainwater available?
M
MachsSelbst16 Apr 2026 21:46100m² (1,076 ft²) of paving will definitely be possible. Honestly, I don’t think that’s particularly much. We have about 60m² (645 ft²) of paving including the path to the house, driveway, and 2 parking spaces. If he wants to park 3 cars there, he will hardly get under 80-100m² (860-1,076 ft²).
He will definitely need a channel drain or some other drainage solution. Depending on local regulations, it might be allowed to direct rainwater onto public land, but never onto a neighbor’s property.
Of course, the drain can quickly become overwhelmed during heavy rain.
The key point is that the water must remain on his own property.
He will definitely need a channel drain or some other drainage solution. Depending on local regulations, it might be allowed to direct rainwater onto public land, but never onto a neighbor’s property.
Of course, the drain can quickly become overwhelmed during heavy rain.
The key point is that the water must remain on his own property.
At least there is a manhole cover on his property at the outer sloping end of the paving (near the property boundary to my property).
How can I tell if he installed permeable paving?
The joints between the paving stones are at most 3-4 mm (0.1-0.2 inches) wide. The surface, when wet from rain, looks almost mirror-smooth, and when pouring some water on it gently with a watering can, it is not apparent whether or not the stones absorb the water.
I also don’t think that even if permeable paving with 3-4 mm (0.1-0.2 inches) joints is used, it can fully absorb the surface water generated during heavy rain events.
How can I tell if he installed permeable paving?
The joints between the paving stones are at most 3-4 mm (0.1-0.2 inches) wide. The surface, when wet from rain, looks almost mirror-smooth, and when pouring some water on it gently with a watering can, it is not apparent whether or not the stones absorb the water.
I also don’t think that even if permeable paving with 3-4 mm (0.1-0.2 inches) joints is used, it can fully absorb the surface water generated during heavy rain events.
Similar topics