Boundary Walls and Fences in France

1. 1. Is it a Private or Common Wall?
2. 2. Rights Concerning Private Boundary Walls
3. 3. Planning Rules on New Construction
4. 4. Maintenance of Common Boundary Wall
5. 5. Constructing Against Common Boundary Wall
6. 6. Increasing Height of Common Boundary Wall
7. 7. Relinquish Shared Ownership of Wall
8. 8. Hedges

8. Rights Concerning Hedges/Hedgerows in France

The law recognises three rights for those neighbours with a common hedgerow.

First, the right to benefit from fruit and other produce from the hedge. Each neighbour has the right to half the produce, irrespective of whether or not it might fall on one side of the hedge! If the tree should die or be cut then each neighbour has the right to half of it.

Second, each neighbour has the right to require that shared trees are cut, although one of the neighbours cannot proceed unilaterally. Joint agreement seems implicit rather than explicitly stated in law.

Thirdly, in relation to the hedge itself, each neighbour can destroy up to the limit of the hedge on his or her own property. However, if they do this, they can be required to construct a wall or fence in lieu of the missing part of the hedge.