Neighbours Building Flower Beds - How Close to Property Lines is Allowed?

[Deactivated] on 01/11/2023 - 13:41
Last edited 01/11/2023 - 13:45

Does anyone know whether councils typically have rules around the building of new flower beds on an established lawn in relation to how close they can be to property lines?

My parents had new neighbours move in earlier this year who have been decidedly un-neighbourly thus far - they commenced a DIY build of a shed & BBQ without advising their respective neighbours. They were subsequently served with an order from the local council to demolish the half-built structures as they were positioned too close to each neighbours' property lines.

Now, they're undertaking DIY landscaping of their front yard on both sides where plastic sheeting was recently laid down that went over each of the neighbours properties. No communication with either neighbour and the guy doing the work doesn't understand English so a bit frustrating for my parents and the other neighbour to sort out.

Just wondering if anyone here has had experience with council landscaping codes in the above scenario.

Home & Garden

Comments

            • [Deactivated] on 01/11/2023 - 20:53
              -8

              @try2bhelpful: Your advice assumes dealing with reasonable folks that actually liaise with you.

              You've not offered any advice under the circumstances.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 01/11/2023 - 19:20
    +7

    Photos or GTFO

  • Drpepper666 on 01/11/2023 - 23:11
    +7

    Your neighbours planted some flowers? Better call the ombudsman

    • [Deactivated] on 01/11/2023 - 23:14
      -1

      Not planted yet. My Dad advised earlier that the neighbour was still hacking away at the lawn today.

    • BartholemewH on 03/11/2023 - 19:12

      This falls under the purview of the ACCC.

  • miwahni on 01/11/2023 - 23:17

    Sometimes issues such as where soft landscaping can go are covered in covenants, not only in council bylaws. Covenants are placed by the developer and often cover issues such as the type of materials that can be used in a build, whether you can park vehicles on your front lawn, where your wheelie bins need to be stored etc. See them a lot in relation to new estates, where they are designed to provide uniformity. Problem with enforcing covenants though is it has to be done by the developer, not the council, so depending on how established your parents' estate is, they may be out of luck there. Still it might be an avenue to explore, if they're that worked up about this.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 02/11/2023 - 11:04

      Problem with enforcing covenants though is it has to be done by the developer

      That's not correct BTW.

  • Odin on 02/11/2023 - 01:20
    +7

    What on earth is this nonsense?

    Questions about whether a freaking flower bed is allowed on your lawn? What??????????????????????????

    • smartazz104 on 02/11/2023 - 08:30
      +1

      Without photos all this talk is useless.

      • geekcohen on 02/11/2023 - 08:52
        +1

        Needs MS Paint diagram.

  • Daddy Chill on 02/11/2023 - 06:10
    +1

    Hey OP you sound like your a firecracker 🧨 between the sheets. I love that

    • pegaxs on 02/11/2023 - 09:51
      +1

      Quick to pop, lots of noise and over in about 10 seconds?

      • Daddy Chill on 02/11/2023 - 12:02
        -2

        Who cares when she's on her back

    • kaleidoscope on 04/11/2023 - 08:19
      +1

      sheets shits rather

  • Thaal Sinestro on 02/11/2023 - 06:43
    +3

    Personally, I think it is a good thing if your neighbors start growing plants. Despite what so many cretinous human beings feel, vegetation isn't the enemy; flora produces the Oxygen you need to breathe in order to remain alive. Maybe in the future the nanny state might even allow us to grow pot and cultivate hallucinogenic mushrooms like Psilocybin.

    "They were subsequently served with an order from the local council to demolish the half-built structures as they were positioned too close to each neighbours' property lines." I don't understand this. In new greenfield estates houses are built 1mm inside the boundary. If they were any closer they would be townhouses/row houses. Councils and especially the state governments that bully them are obsessed with MOAR density.

    • CocaKoala on 03/11/2023 - 21:34

      In new greenfield estates houses are built 1mm inside the boundary. If they were any closer they would be townhouses/row houses

      Grubberment bodies can do whatever they want. But if you try it then they'll fine you and bring about all kinds of trouble for you.

  • ForkSnorter on 02/11/2023 - 07:56
    +7

    I built garden beds all the way along our fence. Couldn't care less what the neighbours think about my garden beds. Looks like the neighbours couldn't care less either. We're on friendly terms. Problem solved.

  • Aby007 on 02/11/2023 - 08:37
    +16

    Hmm … the K in kajke stands for Karen, right?

    • isthatallyougot on 02/11/2023 - 09:18
      +6

      More like K for Koko Loco .

      The OP's ability and time spent arguing with each comment is to be admired. I kinda feel bad for the neighbours now.

  • justgooddeals on 02/11/2023 - 10:10
    +6

    This is one those too much time on your hands and too little real problems to worry about.

    What your neighbours do on their property is none of your business. As long as they are not breaking any laws/council regulations etc.

    Get hobby. Take up gardening right up to your neighbours boundary.

  • sauce2k on 02/11/2023 - 10:12
    +2

    lmao don't help this lady. One comment goes agaisnt what she thinks, she blows up.

  • ripesashimi on 02/11/2023 - 10:35

    No photos yet so nothing happened. Im glad that OP and her neighbours now live happily ever after.

  • datscheap on 02/11/2023 - 10:57
    +3

    Thank god I live out of town with land, having petty neighbours dictating garden shed/garden beds on my own land would do my head in.
    I'd understand complaining if they had a dog that barked all night, or had 1am parties every week but this is just being precious.

  • AnyFurtherDiscount on 02/11/2023 - 11:26

    This is a classic Karen !!! Please leave them alone. it is their yard. They did not ask you what for dinner? jesus

  • ronburgundy11 on 02/11/2023 - 13:33
    +3

    After reading all that, I feel sorry for the neighbours tbh.

    • CocaKoala on 02/11/2023 - 19:26

      The OP also sounds like a highly entitled Karen. Hope I never have to live next to a neighbour like this one.

  • Breno785au on 02/11/2023 - 13:46

    Here's a thought. Knock on your neighbours door, say hello, introduce yourself whatever and say, we have a little bit of a problem that I'd like to discuss.
    Arrive at compromise.
    Problem sorted.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/11/2023 - 04:21
      -1

      Doesn't work in 90%+ of cases because people who do these things only care about themselves. So at best they will pretend to listen then turn "full feral" once you leave. Not only that, other neighbours who learn of it will now openly complain to council about every little thing that annoys them, knowing YOU will probably get the blame for it, because: "He complained before, no-one else has, so it must be him." With problems with neighbours you either fix it yourself (e.g. Closing the gap under the fence.) Or you deal with it quietly so you have plausible deniability - so you can act dumb/surprised when confronted. "Really? Someone complained about THAT!? Nah wasn't me mate. I never even thought about it until you mentioned it just now." This way, if you ever do need to deal with things like spraying weed killer over the fence or knifing tyres at 2AM for parking on your yard, etc… "Yeah wasn't me dude. It's only grass and dirt so I don't care. Someone used to do that to my car too which is why I only park in the driveway now. It used to only happen the morning after this group of 2 or 3 drunk teens would wake me up at 11pm."

    • Eeples on 03/11/2023 - 08:08

      This reminds me of a teacher colleague of mine who on ringing the parent due to a student’s poor behaviour was met with, ‘That’s your problem when he’s at school. Do I ring you when he won’t do the washing up!?’

      Problem not sorted (but insight gained, I suppose)

      I’m suggesting that not everyone is a reasonable person.

      • JimmyF on 03/11/2023 - 09:06
        +1

        This reminds me of a teacher colleague of mine who on ringing the parent due to a student’s poor behaviour was met with, ‘That’s your problem when he’s at school. Do I ring you when he won’t do the washing up!?’

        The parents response kinda explains all that was wrong with the kid and why….

  • Fysh on 02/11/2023 - 13:54
    +1

    Sytrafoam is not suitable for outdoors. Simply spraying acetone will destroy them

    • JimmyF on 03/11/2023 - 09:07
      +2

      Handy to know that Sytrafoam isn't destroyed indoors by acetone then….

  • Nitrollparty on 02/11/2023 - 14:37
    +3

    whatever i do within my 4 walled fence is my business only, i will build whatever i like. this post sounds like you are the pain in the ass neighbour

    • PainToad on 02/11/2023 - 15:42

      That’s not how it works.

      Hope you know it takes two seconds to look up online (with most councils) what your neighbours are actually approved to have been built.

      A quick report to council will result in them either forcing you to pay for a certifier to approve the construction or if it’s flat out illegal you’ll be forced to knock it down.

      • Nitrollparty on 02/11/2023 - 19:30
        -3

        i paid for the land, i pay my rates…everyone can stuff it

        • PainToad on 03/11/2023 - 06:56
          +2

          This guy sprouting nonsense and not following the law gets voted up, but me stating facts gets voted down.

          It’s sad what this country has become.

          Everyone thinks they’re special and the laws don’t apply to them.

          i pay my rates

          Except you’re not paying the building approval fees which are essentially an extension of your rates. So no, you’re not paying all your share.

      • us3rnam3tak3n on 03/11/2023 - 00:16

        Which councils document where you're allowed to plant flowers though?

        • PainToad on 03/11/2023 - 06:58
          +1

          I didn’t say flowers. I was responding to the claim that “i will build whatever i like”.

          • Nitrollparty on 03/11/2023 - 08:01
            -2

            @PainToad: ive let my neighbours do what they like and vice versa.. mate the government rort us for everything we got..inside my 4 walls its my country.

            • Eeples on 03/11/2023 - 08:12

              @Nitrollparty: And if one of your neighbours built a 2 story granny flat on your fence line with a balcony looking over your ‘4 walls’ you would be fine with that ?

              • PainToad on 03/11/2023 - 08:19

                @Eeples:

                And if one of your neighbours built a 2 story granny flat on your fence line with a balcony looking over your ‘4 walls’ you would be fine with that ?

                Or even a shed with down pipes running directly into you yard washing away your garden every time it storms.

            • PainToad on 03/11/2023 - 08:18
              +2

              @Nitrollparty:

              ive let my neighbours do what they like and vice versa

              Until the neighbours change.

              inside my 4 walls its my country

              You all seem to think saying this over and over again some how makes it true. It doesn’t.

              • Randolph Duke on 03/11/2023 - 11:48
                +1

                @PainToad:

                You all seem to think saying this over and over again some how makes it true. It doesn’t.

                Sound like one of those sovereign citizen nutters.

  • Archi on 02/11/2023 - 15:19

    I'm commenting on this so it is easy to find this thread later, gotta love a good neighbourhood clash.

  • knackers on 02/11/2023 - 15:32
    +5

    neighbour from hell seeking support - none found

  • Protractor on 02/11/2023 - 20:37

    Did your parents try the garden interpreter dept? Call Bill or Ben.
    They take cash,card and sometimes they like a little weed.

  • Vieira4 on 02/11/2023 - 21:32
    +1

    What is your postcode OP? I want to not move there.

  • eddyah on 02/11/2023 - 22:07
    +8

    I see we have a new OzKaren today

    • SpainKing on 03/11/2023 - 17:08
      +2

      kajke's been around with this behaviour since 2019. I've never seen so many negs gathered so quickly by a single person

  • Aap Ke Papa on 03/11/2023 - 00:55
    +1

    my goodness, ways people think of complaining and causing disputes with neighbours.
    Solution: OP should relocate to a jungle.

  • Eeples on 03/11/2023 - 01:57
    +12

    Please help.

    My neighbour keeps whipper snippering along his fence but he also snips my grass too on MY property! (as the fence is raised at the ground).

    I have recently put some polystyrene planter boxes on my side of the fence. Hopefully that will stop him encroaching into my yard with his whipper snipper.

    Can I complain to council if he continues to trespass with the whipper snipper?

    I would go over and talk to him but his son is over there all the time…and I’m a bit worried because I think he might be a gamer.

    Thanks in advance.

  • MrFunSocks on 03/11/2023 - 10:03

    they commenced a DIY build of a shed & BBQ without advising their respective neighbours.

    So? You don't need to advise your neighbours every time you do something on your property.

    • PainToad on 03/11/2023 - 10:50
      +2

      The same BS keeps getting posted over and over again 🤦

      Yes, in some circumstances (like being built too close the boundary) they not only need to advise the neighbours, they need the approval of neighbours (and have that approval submitted to council).

      Considering council made them knock down the shed, clearly it wasn’t legal.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 03/11/2023 - 11:00
    +1

    Where's the photos OP?

    We're waaaaaaaaiting

    • Archi on 03/11/2023 - 12:37

      don't think OP's coming back

  • Odin on 03/11/2023 - 11:46

    Alright I'm going to give an answer to fix this:

    Buy some timber pailings from Bunnings and fix them horizontally below the fence to close the gap.

    Then your yards are properly isolated and it doesn't matter what each of you do.

    • coolroy on 03/11/2023 - 17:19

      Timber placed along bottom of existing fence would most likely rot away or become termite fodder.

      • Odin on 03/11/2023 - 17:36
        +2

        who gives a shit

        it'll rot after 5+ years, by then, these two dopey neighbours will have moved on to other inane rubbish to get bothered by

  • Daniel Plainview on 03/11/2023 - 11:52
    +1

    Out of the box idea - speak to the respective council for your area.

    Or I mean if you prefer, I could just guess from here. ;-)

  • franco cozzo on 03/11/2023 - 15:42
    +1

    sounds like the apple doesnt fall far from the tree! lol!

  • drfuzzy on 03/11/2023 - 16:15

    You need to construct a neutral zone between your properties which neither neighbour can access or plant. Fortify it. You could call it the DMZ.

  • nobro25 on 03/11/2023 - 20:15

    Mate if you want to get technical. You can hire a surveyor to find the boundary line. Sure you would assume the fence is the boundary but it's not always the case.

    Also as you have mentioned before unless there is a proper easement benefiting your lot there is nothing you can really do.

    Best hope is that maybe they have grown over the boundary line and then you can take legal procedures as you have an actual marked boundary and evidence that they have encroached on your property.

    Otherwise you kinda just have to deal with it as it is.

  • Porker on 03/11/2023 - 20:36
    +1

    I wonder if OP will ever come back and/or close their ozb account. They were clear in an earlier reply that they're posting the issue on Whirlpool given the replies they received here.

  • diddy50 on 03/11/2023 - 21:41

    Why don't your parents continue the flower bed into their property?

    Would be most excellent for bees and more beautiful flowers for your parents to look at , rather than spending their time to mow boring grass.

  • Bing0 on 04/11/2023 - 03:34
    +1

    I just want to see this weird fence that can't be mowed against by the sites owner, never heard about grass you're responsible for but can't access before.

  • kaleidoscope on 04/11/2023 - 08:25
    -1

    I bet if council doesn’t ask flower beds to be demolished this person would then hire a surveyor and make a scene that part of the flower bed is over the boundary line by 1mm and have them removed.

  • ribze1 on 04/11/2023 - 10:07

    Interesting thread. The shed/gazebo issue - fair enough, but the garden beds no.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 04/11/2023 - 12:19
    +2

    Oi Karen OP. Get back in here. Get off your video games and give us photos.

    Very unneighbourly of you to post, insult peeps then ghost the thread.

  • Kiro on 04/11/2023 - 15:52

    Put some timber to close up the gaps under the fence and salt his garden or turps on the Styrofoam.

  • MITM on 04/11/2023 - 18:11
    +5

    Can’t believe this post is still going 3 days later. OP left the convo on day 1 around midnight (and never posted a photo of the fence as promised and reiterated later). Probably retreated back to the parents basement. I doubt the neighbours even know there’s an issue. LOL.

    • PainToad on 06/11/2023 - 16:17
      -5

      OP probably didn’t come back because of all the rude bullying they received, for example in your very comment.

      OP may have been explaining the issue poorly and you all didn’t wait for them to provide the photos before attacking them.

      At the end of the day, all we know for certain is the neighbours built an illegal shed and bbq. So it’s not like the neighbours are saints in this situation.

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