Woman wants to protect herself from prying eyes: This is how the double fencing craze began

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Mrs. S.* has lived in a terraced house in quiet Schaffhausen for 40 years. Later, the course of life overshadows the peace with the neighbors, and today – figuratively speaking – there is a fire on the roof. About the height of a fence. The centimeter fight that takes place in the same or very similar way in many neighborhoods of Switzerland. As a result of the cooling relationship with the neighborhood, Mrs. S. wanted more privacy. Mrs. S. feels that she is becoming more and more a player in a play called Everyday Life, which her neighbor notes with pleasure, even with “delightful glances.” Mrs. S. thought this had to be the end of it and wanted to fence the border of the neighboring property to ensure privacy. That’s when the nonsense started.

Because the neighbors already have fences. However, the height of the line of sight between property A (neighbors) and property B (Mrs. S.) is only 150 centimeters. Only at the top is a 250 centimeter high beam on separate uprights. Miss S. says the difference between them is so great that you can “easily” see through it.

Mrs. S. wanted to go 150 centimeters higher than her neighbors and built a fence 180 centimeters high. Cost: 1700 francs. There were now two garden fences in a row in a residential area in Schaffhausen; one had more than 150 trailer beams and the other was 180 centimeters high. These types of privacy elements are also called “enclosures” in the garden fencing scene, which nicely summarizes the desired effect: tranquility, contemplation, inner peace.

Local construction police intervene

Mrs. S also hoped for this, but the peace did not last long. After the neighbors complained to the local police, a “restoration order” was suddenly issued to the house. They said their fences were too high. It would therefore then have to be lifted or cut to a height of 150 centimeters.

Things to know at this point: The height of fences, walls and other privacy protection elements that require approval varies from canton to canton. In the canton of Schaffhausen, a permit is required for anything exceeding 150 centimeters. So why do neighbors have a beam 250 centimeters high without a building permit? This is also where you need to know that age privilege comes into play: The neighbor’s fence has been up for over 30 years, which means—to use building officials’ technical terminology—he or she has “earned” the right. build.

There are no gifts

Ms. S.’s fence is new and exceeds the height that does not require approval. But that’s not all: The fence is located directly over the property line, which violates another provision of the cantonal fence regulations. Accordingly, the fence must be moved half a centimeter into the property as much as it exceeds the exemption limit of 150 centimeters. In Ms S.’s case, the 180-centimetre-high fence would have to be moved 15 centimeters into the interior of the property.

An exception may be possible if neighbors tolerate border fencing. But they don’t. Because this is one of the rules of neighborhood conflicts: No gifts are given.

Mrs. S. will cut the hedge. And so soon there will be two garden fences in a row in a residential area in Schaffhausen. One is 150 centimeters high (plus a trailer), the other is 150 centimeters high.

*Editor’s name known

Source :Blick