Action Sheet — Brush Clearing

Writing to a neighbour to ask them to clear the undergrowth on their property: procedure and template

Does your 50-metre radius encroach on the neighbouring undeveloped plot? The law is clear: it’s up to you to sort it out — after informing them. A well-drafted letter (see template below), a one-month waiting period, and you’re covered: if they refuse, the responsibility falls on them.

3-minute read Content verified — July 2026

Key points

The branch is overhanging onto a neighbour’s property that has NOT been built on → it is your responsibility to clear the undergrowth in this area, at your own expense.
A mandatory step: notify them in writing (preferably by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt), specifying the area and the nature of the works.
If there is no objection within one month, you take action. If he REFUSES access, the obligation (and the penalties) fall on him.
Keep everything: letters, registered post, before-and-after photos — these will act as your safeguard in the event of an inspection or a claim.

Duration30 mins + 1 month’s lead timeCost~€5 (registered post with return receipt)DifficultyEasyWhenAutumn (winter construction site)

Equipment: the model below · floor plan/photo of the aisle (see ‘Measurements’ section) · recommended return envelope

Why it’s important

The Forestry Code places the responsibility for clearing undergrowth on the person threatened by it: the occupier of the building, even beyond its boundaries. However, entering someone else’s property cannot be done on a whim from a legal point of view — prior written notice is what makes your action lawful, and it is also what governs the shift in responsibility If the neighbour objects: as soon as they refuse, it is THEY who will be subject to a formal notice and fines. Without a written agreement, however, you remain solely responsible for an area that you are unable to treat. The full framework: Understanding the OLD.

How to do it, step by step

Mark out the area precisely

Screenshot of the route (fact sheet to measure its radius): the neighbour’s cadastral plot, the approximate area concerned, the nature of the planned work (mowing, thinning out shrubs, pruning — NO felling of healthy trees without express consent).

Identify the correct recipient

The OWNER of the plot (not the tenant): immediate neighbours, or the town hall’s town planning/land registry department, which will pass on the information, or the land registry office. Jointly owned plot: write to all known co-owners.

Post the letter

Send the form below by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt (proof of the date is crucial), and enclose the plan. Submitting a copy to the town hall supports the application in local authorities that follow the OLD.

Wait a month

If there is no reply or objection: their silence implies consent to access for this work — get in touch to let them know the date by a quick note or text message. If the reply is positive: agree on a date together and clear away any leftover materials.

In the event of a refusal: record the switch

Reply by registered post, acknowledging the refusal and pointing out that the obligation now rests with him (Article L131-12 of the Forestry Code), with a copy to the town hall. You are covered; the mayor has the file for further action (formal notice).

Document the procedure

Dated before-and-after photos, and any invoices. Waste materials: offer to shred them on site or arrange for their removal — a tidy site helps maintain good relations with neighbours, which will stand you in good stead year after year.

The mistakes that ruin everything

Clearing the undergrowth on your neighbour’s property ‘quickly and without saying a word’ — you’re putting yourself at risk (damage, conflict) even if you think you’re doing the right thing.
A simple text message as the only record: without proof of the date and content, there can be no legally binding shift of liability.
Felling tall trees whilst passing through: the OLD requires work to be carried out in stages, not the felling of healthy trees — felling requires its approval.
Leaving garden waste in piles at home: a source of conflict AND risk.

The tip that makes all the difference

Before sending a registered letter, try offering a coffee: nine out of ten neighbours are happy to agree when you show them the plans and promise to keep the site tidy. The letter then serves to formalise the arrangement — presented as ‘the document that protects us both’, it goes down very well.

A template letter to be adapted

Copy the text, complete the fields in square brackets, and send by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt. Enclose a map of the area (a screenshot from Géoportail or our tool).

[Your name and address]
[Name and address of neighbouring property owner]
On [date], in [town/village]

Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt
Subject: Preliminary notice — compulsory brush-clearing encroaching on your plot [cadastral reference]

Dear Sir or Madam,

My property, situated at [address], on which a building stands, is subject to the legal obligation to clear undergrowth as provided for in Articles L131-10 et seq. of the Forestry Code and by the prefectural order of [date of the order] applicable in our department.

The regulatory 50-metre perimeter around my building extends in part onto your plot, registered as [section and number], covering an area of approximately [X] m² (map attached).

In accordance with Article L131-12 of the Forestry Code, it is my responsibility to carry out this work at my own expense. I therefore wish to inform you of my intention to carry out, with effect from [date, allow at least one month’s notice], the following operations in the area concerned: mowing of herbaceous vegetation, thinning of shrubs, pruning of low-hanging branches, and removal of cuttings. No felling of healthy trees is planned without your express consent.

Unless you object within one month of receiving this letter, I shall assume that you have no objection to my accessing your plot solely for the purpose of carrying out this work. I shall inform you of the date of the work.

I am, of course, available to discuss this and organise the work as effectively as possible ([telephone] / [email]).

Yours faithfully,

[Signature]

Enclosure: map of the area concerned

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — that is precisely the purpose of the letter: the absence of any objection within one month is deemed to constitute consent to access for the works notified. Keep the registered letter, give notice of the date of the works, stick strictly to the operations described, and take before-and-after photographs.

Local council: write to the mayor; the procedure is the same (local authorities usually reply quickly). If the owner cannot be traced: send a letter to their last known address and report the matter to the town hall — the mayor has the means to identify the owner and, if this proves impossible, his or her police powers will take over in relation to the derelict plot.

The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.

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