Short answer
A “high hedge” is a line of two or more evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs, more than 2 metres tall, that acts as a barrier to light or access. If it harms your reasonable enjoyment of your home or garden, you can complain to the council, but only after you have tried to settle things with your neighbour. The council cannot order the hedge to be removed or cut below 2 metres.
This summary is based on GOV.UK guidance for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own high hedges legislation; check your local council.
What counts as a high hedge?
- A line of two or more trees or shrubs; single trees do not count.
- Mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen. Privet that loses its leaves in winter does not count, nor do beech or hornbeam that keep dead leaves.
- More than 2 metres high, measured from ground level.
- A barrier to light or access, even if there are gaps. Gaps more than 2 metres above the ground that significantly reduce the barrier effect mean it is not a high hedge.
Who can complain?
The owner or occupier of a domestic property, about a hedge on someone else’s land that harms the reasonable enjoyment of their home or garden. Stress or illness from worrying about the hedge, or subsidence from roots, are not valid grounds.
Step 1: try to settle it first
The council can reject a complaint if you have not taken all reasonable steps to resolve the dispute with your neighbour. Talk to them, ideally in person, explain how the hedge affects you and suggest a sensible height. Keep a record of what you did.
Step 2: complain to the council
- The complaint must be in writing and the council will tell your neighbour.
- You will most likely pay a fee. Reduced fees may be available for low-income households. Fees are usually not refunded, and the council cannot make your neighbour repay you.
- The council visits, hears both sides, and decides whether the hedge adversely affects you.
What the council can do
- Issue a remedial notice setting out what must be done and by when; it can require ongoing trimming to a set height.
- Give time to comply, including allowing for nesting birds.
- If the owner does not comply, the council can enter the land and do the work. Non-compliance is an offence with a fine of up to £1,000, according to GOV.UK.
What the council cannot do
- Order the hedge to be removed or action that could kill it.
- Require trimming below 2 metres.
- Consider other neighbours’ hedges.
- Deal with root problems such as subsidence.
Appeals
Either side can appeal the council’s decision to the Planning Inspectorate. Complaints about how the council handled the case go to the Local Government Ombudsman after the council’s own complaints process.
Cutting it yourself
If the hedge overhangs your side, see our guide to overhanging hedges and neighbour rights. Cutting more than overhanging branches could leave you open to a claim for damage.