Maximum height of boundary wall on to public laneway?

Wh1skeyjack · 20-08-2022 4:01pm #1

Hi,

I've a boundary wall of my property that faces onto a public laneway (between two housing estates). It's currently around 1.8m, but I'd like to raise the height as high as possible. A few weeks ago two lads hopped it and went through my car which I'd foolishly forgotten to lock and I haven't felt comfortable since. What's the maximum height for this? Google is giving me 2m, but I don't know if that applies to walls bounding public laneways. I've walked the laneway and several neighbours have walls in excess of 2m, no doubt due to similar issues. Do I need planning to do this?

muffler · 20-08-2022 5:53pm

2 metres high is the maximum height you can build to the side or rear of the property. Anything higher requires planning permission.

Wh1skeyjack · 20-08-2022 6:18pm

Ok thanks, I guess that must have been what my neighbours did. Best course of action then is to plant hedging then I would think? Was looking at putting barbed wire up or similar and the consensus was you could get sued.

rje66 · 20-08-2022 6:20pm

Plant pyracantha, job done.

Lumen · 20-08-2022 7:54pm

Bird spikes?

standardg60 · 20-08-2022 8:03pm

It's actually 2.1 metres here, but in reality no-ones going to care if you go higher

21-08-2022 9:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119499184#Comment_119499184

SI 600 of 2001 is very clear:

"CLASS 5

The construction, erection or alteration, within or bounding the curtilage of a house, of a gate, gateway, railing or wooden fence or a wall of brick, stone, blocks with decorative finish, other concrete blocks or mass concrete.

1. The height of any such structure shall not exceed 2 metres or, in the case of a wall or fence within or bounding any garden or other space in front of a house, 1.2 metres.

2. Every wall other than a dry or natural stone wall bounding any garden or other space shall be capped and the face of any wall of concrete or concrete block (other than blocks with decorative finish) which will be visible from any road, path or public area, including public open space, shall be rendered or plastered.

3. No such structure shall be a metal palisade or other security fence."

21-08-2022 9:32am

But yeah, few enough people go around with measuring tapes, so as long as you don't take the p1ss with the height there shouldn't be a problem.

Whitethorn/blackthorn hedge will grow pretty quickly & as high as you want. Will keep out everyone & everything if you plant it right.

muffler · 21-08-2022 10:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119499184#Comment_119499184

Where is "here"?

There are lots of things that people don't care about and then there is the law.

hesker · 01-09-2022 8:21am

Noticed the variation in decimal places in the above.

shall not exceed 2 metres

and

1.2 metres

I work in an environment dealing with regulations and specifications, but not the construction industry.

It could be argued that 2.44m does not exceed 2 metres as 2.44 rounds down to 2.

Such rounding is standard in my area of work. Wondering has it ever been considered in planning matters

muffler · 01-09-2022 8:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119552401#Comment_119552401

The regulations are more than clear. 2 metres is 2 metres. There is no rounding of any figures.

DOCARCH · 01-09-2022 8:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119552401#Comment_119552401

Planning enforcement officers tend to be quite black and white! As Muffler says, 2 metres is 2 metres.

hesker · 01-09-2022 10:12am

I’m sure they are black and white but there is always rounding involved.

Would not be clarified I guess unless it went to court.

When you say 2 metres is 2 metres what you are actually saying is 2m is 2.0m or 2.00m which is not the case.

That interpretation of the law as written above is open to challenge.

muffler · 01-09-2022 12:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119553018#Comment_119553018

You've been told already that there is no rounding involved. I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve with your comments but hey, if you want to write your own regulations then carry on. I don't think it will bother anyone here.

hargo · 01-09-2022 1:12pm

Someone would have to complain before the planning authorities get involved and given that your neighbours have raised their walls they are unlikely to complain. As long as you don't build a fortress you are likely to be ok.