High Hedges Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 Explanatory Notes

Section 2 - High Hedge

This section defines a "high hedge” for the purposes of this Act as a barrier to light formed wholly or predominantly by a line of two or more evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs which rise to a height of more than two metres above ground level.  Where the existence of gaps in a hedge above two metres significantly impacts on its overall effect as such a barrier, complaints will not be eligible for consideration by the council.

The definition of high hedge excludes any trees contained within a forest or woodland (of size greater than 0.2 hectares).  Therefore complaints cannot be made under this Act in relation to the negative effect of any such trees on domestic property.

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