You have a fencing project to secure your garden, preserve your privacy, or simply define your space? That’s an excellent idea! But before choosing your rigid mesh or screening panels, one step is absolutely crucial: knowing with certainty the exact boundaries of your property. Installing a fence in the wrong location can lead to neighborhood disputes and costly legal complications. So, how can you be sure? We explain everything.
Consult the Official Documents for Your Property
The first step, the simplest and most obvious, is to gather the documents you possess. Your title deed, obtained when purchasing your house or land, contains valuable information about the area and cadastral references of your plot. It’s a good starting point.
You can also consult the cadastral plan online on the government website or directly at your town hall. This graphic document represents your land and that of your neighbors. Be aware, however: the cadastre has fiscal and indicative value; it does not serve as legal proof to define precise boundaries down to the centimeter. It gives you a general idea but does not constitute irrefutable evidence in case of dispute.
Look for Boundary Markers on Your Land
Often, property boundaries are physically marked by boundary markers. These may be stones, concrete stakes, or plastic markers with a metal head, planted at the corners of the land. Search for them using the cadastral plan as a guide. If your land has previously been surveyed, these markers are the physical proof of the established boundaries. Finding them will give you a very reliable indication of where to install your future fence.
Hire a Licensed Surveyor for a Boundary Survey
If you cannot find any markers, if the documents are unclear, or if you disagree with your neighbor, the only solution to establish boundaries officially and definitively is to hire a licensed surveyor. This is the only professional authorized to conduct a boundary survey. Their work results in a boundary survey report, signed by you and your neighbor, which is then registered. This document has indisputable legal value and eliminates all uncertainty.
Amicable Boundary Survey: The Preferred Solution
Ideally, this process is done amicably. You and your neighbor jointly appoint a licensed surveyor and share the costs. This is the quickest and least expensive solution. If your neighbor refuses, you can initiate a judicial boundary survey procedure, but the process will be longer and more complex. Dialogue always remains the best option for maintaining good neighborly relations.
Discuss with Your Neighbors Before Starting Work
Even if you are certain of your boundaries, communication is key. Inform your neighbors of your intention to install a fence. This is a simple courtesy that can prevent many misunderstandings. It is also an opportunity to discuss a possible shared boundary fence, installed on the dividing line. In this case, installation and maintenance costs are shared. Good understanding greatly facilitates projects!
Check Local Planning Regulations
Knowing your boundaries is one thing, but you must also comply with the law! Before purchasing your materials, visit the town hall to consult the Local Planning Scheme (PLU) or any other regulations in force in your municipality. This document may impose strict rules concerning:
- The maximum height of your fence.
- Authorized materials (mesh, wood, PVC, aluminum, etc.).
- Permitted colors.
- Distances to be maintained from public roads.
In certain cases (listed site, subdivision with specifications, etc.), a prior declaration of works may be mandatory. A quick visit to the town hall will save you from a request to dismantle your installation.
Plan the Installation of Your Future Fence
Once you know the exact boundary and the rules to follow, you can finally move to the practical stage. Expert advice: do not install your fence exactly on the boundary line, but slightly set back on your land (a few centimeters is sufficient). This confirms that the fence is indeed private and leaves you a small space to maintain it without ever having to go onto your neighbor’s property. You are now ready to choose your rigid panels, your mesh, or your screening with complete peace of mind
Expert in fencing, gates, and outdoor landscaping since 2019.
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