Section 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act (2003) covers the current legalisation on high laurel hedges. There are actually no laws on how high a laurel hedge can be grown but if “the hedge is adversely affecting the complainant’s reasonable enjoyment of their property” then the council can take action. For this reason it is best to maintain your laurel hedge. Plenty of tips on how to do this can be found on Laurel Hedging.
This section of the law only applies to a “high hedge” on domestic property which is defined as a hedge formed of two or more evergreens, and is at least two metres above the ground.
You can plant a hedge, in most cases, without planning permission but you are responsible for its care and maintenance. If the hedge grows over a boundary then your neighbours are well within their rights to cut back the hedge to the boundary however anything they cut remains your property.
If your hedge damages your neighbours property then you could be liable for any costs for compensation and repairs.
If the hedge is overhanging, or obstructing, a public path then your local council can take action to force you to cut it back.
