Building a terrace near your plot boundary: what neighbours need to agree

Why the boundary distance matters at all

A terrace close to the boundary affects more than the two of you. It can shade the neighbour's garden, drop rainwater onto their side, or simply feel like it's looking straight into their kitchen window. These are the practical reasons distance conventions exist, not just paperwork for its own sake.

On a generously sized plot this rarely causes friction, because there's space to spare. On the smaller and older plots common in Harju county, where houses were built close together long before current planning practice, a few centimetres either way can matter to both sides.

Distance rules exist to reduce disputes before they start. They don't remove the need to talk to the person next door, and in practice that conversation matters more than the exact number.

What actually needs a permit or a notice

Whether a terrace needs a building notice, a permit, or nothing at all depends on its height, whether it's attached to the house, and how close it sits to the boundary. A low, ground-level deck is treated differently from a raised terrace with a railing, or one built under a roof.

This is a separate question from boundary distance, and the two get confused often. A terrace can be well within the usual distance conventions and still need registering with the building register because of its size or height, or the other way round.

The only reliable way to know is to ask your local government's planning office, or check the building register with your address and plot details to hand. Rules vary slightly between municipalities and have changed over the years, so don't rely on what a neighbour did on their own plot, even next door.

What to agree with the neighbour before you build

Even where a terrace technically doesn't need anyone's written permission, it's worth talking to the neighbour before the first post goes in the ground. A short conversation avoids a long argument later, particularly if the terrace will be visible from their garden or windows.

If your plots are separated by an apartment association's common land, or the terrace sits near a shared driveway or utility easement, the association may also need to be told, even if the terrace itself is entirely on your private plot.

Putting the basics in writing, even as a simple message, is worth the five minutes it takes. It's not about mistrust; it's about not relying on memory if the topic comes up again in a few years.

• Confirm the exact boundary line, ideally from the cadastral map rather than an old fence
• Agree who is responsible for a shared or new fence along that line
• Check whether the terrace roof, if any, will shed rainwater onto their side
• Agree on screening or planting if privacy is a concern for either of you
• Note the agreement in writing, even briefly, and keep a copy

Noise and working hours next to an occupied garden

Terrace building involves a saw, a drill, and often a compactor for the base, none of which are quiet. If your neighbour's garden or bedroom window is close to the site, working hours matter as much as the finished distance.

Most Harju county municipalities expect louder work to stay within reasonable daytime hours on weekdays, with weekends and evenings treated more strictly. Exact hours are set locally, so it's worth checking your municipality's rules rather than assuming.

Telling the neighbour in advance which days you'll be working, particularly if it involves several days of cutting or drilling, costs nothing and tends to buy a lot of goodwill for the rest of the build.

Is this a job to do yourself, or worth hiring someone for

A straightforward ground-level deck on level soil is a realistic weekend project for someone comfortable with a saw and a spirit level. Where it gets harder is exactly the situation this guide is about: working close to a boundary, where a few centimetres of error or a wrongly placed post footing becomes the neighbour's problem as well as yours.

A fence along the boundary is often part of the same conversation, and getting it straight, at the right height and on the right line, is easier with the right tools and someone who's set out a boundary line before. Our fence repair and installation work starts from 45 € per hour for exactly this kind of job.

If you'd rather have the whole terrace built to a fixed result rather than manage it yourself, our decking and terraces work starts from 90 € per job, with a fixed quote given once we've seen the plot and the plan, so there are no surprises on the invoice.