27 rules

Neighbours and garden

Noise, mowing the lawn, barbecues, rubbish and garden work: the rules for being a good neighbour.

☐ Not allowed: Is it a problem to talk loudly or play music at night when I have guests at home? — Yes, it is a problem. Municipal police regulations usually forbid noise that disturbs your neighbours' peace. Since 1 September 2026, night-time noise is no longer a crime under the Criminal Code. If the municipality has included it in its police regulation, it can impose an administrative fine (GAS).
☐ Not allowed: If the bottle bank is full, can I leave my bag next to it? — No. Leaving a bag next to the bottle bank counts as illegal dumping. The municipality can impose an administrative fine. It can also make you pay the cleaning costs.
☐ Not allowed: Can I take dry branches or wood lying on the ground in the forest? — No, as a rule you cannot. In Flanders and Brussels, it is forbidden, including dry branches. In Wallonia, you must have the owner's permission.
☐ Not allowed: Can I pick linden (lime) blossoms from a tree in the street or in the park? — As a rule, no. Street and park trees belong to the municipality or the region. Breaking branches, climbing the tree or putting a ladder on the road can lead to a penalty.
☐ Not allowed: Can I burn dry leaves, branches or rubbish in my garden? — No, in most cases it is not allowed. In Flanders and Brussels, burning garden waste is forbidden. In Wallonia, you may only burn dry garden waste if you are more than 100 metres from houses.
☐ Not allowed: Is it an offence to spray graffiti on a wall or to damage a car or a bus shelter? — Yes. Spraying graffiti on, or damaging, someone else's property without permission is vandalism. For buildings, vehicles and community facilities, the penalty is heavier (level 2). The municipality can also impose an administrative fine.
☐ Not allowed: Can I park briefly on the pavement, on a cycle path or in front of a garage? — No. Parking on the pavement or on a cycle path is a 2nd-degree offence. Parking in front of a garage or house entrance is also forbidden; it makes no difference if it is only for a short time.
☐ Required: How far from my neighbour's boundary do I have to plant a tree or hedge? — There are minimum distances. Trees that are at least 2 metres tall must be at least 2 m from the boundary. Other trees, shrubs and hedges must be at least 0,5 m away.
☐ Required: Can my dog be off the lead in the street? Can I be fined for barking or dog mess? — In most municipalities, dogs must be kept on a lead in public spaces and you must pick up after them. Constant barking can also count as noise nuisance. The rules are set by the municipality.
☐ Required: Can I put a skip for renovation rubble on the pavement in front of my house? — You must get permission from the municipality first. The pavement, parking spaces and the road are public space; you may not put a skip there without permission.
☐ Required: Can I put paper, PMD and food scraps in the residual waste bag (restafval / déchets résiduels), or is sorting compulsory? — No, you cannot put everything in the residual waste. In Flanders and Brussels, regional rules directly require households to sort their waste. In Wallonia there is a general duty to sort; the municipal regulations set out what must be sorted and how.
☐ Depends: Can I bring fresh fruit, vegetables, seedlings or seeds from a country outside the EU? — Fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers from countries outside the EU (except Switzerland) need a plant health certificate. The only ones allowed without a certificate are bananas, pineapples, coconuts, dates and durians. Bringing in seeds, seedlings, cuttings, bulbs and plants with roots without a certificate is forbidden.
☐ Depends: Can I mow the lawn in my garden on a Sunday? — It depends on the municipality. In all 19 municipalities of Brussels, motorised garden tools are completely forbidden on Sundays and public holidays. The safest choice: do not use motorised tools on Sundays and holidays.
☐ Depends: Can I have a barbecue in the park? — It depends on the municipality and the park. In many parks, barbecues are only allowed in marked areas.
☐ Depends: Can I set off fireworks at a wedding or during Eid (Bayram)? — Usually not. In many municipalities, fireworks need a permit or are completely forbidden. Always ask the municipality before you set any off.
☐ Depends: Do I need a permit to build a garden shed, a veranda or a carport? — It depends on the region and the size. Small outbuildings can sometimes be built without a permit if certain conditions are met; if any condition is not met, you need a permit. For a veranda and in Brussels, always ask the municipality.
☐ Depends: Can I cut down a big tree in my own garden? — Usually you need a permit. The rules vary a lot between regions, and the municipality can be stricter than the region. Before you cut, ask the municipality's planning or environment department.
☐ Depends: My neighbour's tree hangs over my garden. Can I cut the branches back, and can I take the fruit? — It depends. First ask your neighbour to cut the branches back. If they have not done so within 60 days of a registered letter, you can cut back the branches and roots yourself.
☐ Depends: I am having problems with my neighbour over noise, a tree or a parking space. What can I do? — Talk to them first, then use the municipality's free mediation service. If the problem continues, you can ask the justice of the peace for free conciliation. If there is immediate danger, call 101.
☐ Depends: How high can I build a fence or wall in my garden without a permit? — It depends on the region and which part of the garden it is in. In the back garden, a fence up to 2 m high usually does not need a permit. In the front garden, the limit is much lower.
☐ Depends: Do I need a permit for an in-ground or above-ground pool in my garden? — It depends. A small outdoor pool well away from the boundary often does not need a permit. A large or covered pool, or one close to the boundary, does need a permit. The limits vary a lot from region to region.
☐ Depends: Can I put in a window, or build a balcony or terrace, that overlooks my neighbour's garden? — It depends. A window with clear glass, a balcony or a terrace must be at least 1,90 m from the neighbour's boundary. You can never put a window in a shared wall.
☐ Depends: Can I raise the wall I share with my neighbour, build against it or make them share the costs? — It depends. You can raise the shared wall at your own expense. But building against the wall and making major changes require your neighbour's consent. Maintenance costs are shared.
☐ Depends: Which animals can I keep at home? Can I have a monkey, a squirrel or a snake? — It depends. The only mammals you may keep without a permit are those on the official "positive list". For a species that is not on the list, you need separate approval from the region.
☐ Depends: Can I leave my caravan, trailer or broken-down car in the street for weeks? — No, not for long. Trailers, caravans and vehicles that no longer run may be parked in the street for at most 24 hours in a row. For heavy vehicles in built-up areas, the limit is 8 hours.
☐ Depends: May I drill, saw, renovate or make building noise on a Sunday or in the evening? — It depends. There is no single rule for all of Belgium; the hours are mostly set in the municipality's police regulation. Many municipalities ban power tools on Sundays, public holidays and at night. In Brussels, regional hours apply to building sites.
☐ Allowed: If my child breaks the neighbour's window, who pays? Is family liability insurance compulsory? — It is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended. As a rule, you pay for any damage your child under 16 or your dog causes to someone else. Family liability insurance usually covers this.