Hedge-trimming deadlines extended in France after winter rainfall
Several departments extend March 15 deadline to help farmers
The regulations apply to farmers and other professionals, but homeowners should be aware of any local bylaws
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An extended deadline to France’s usual hedge-cutting deadlines has been exceptionally introduced in several departments this year due to intense winter rainfall.
A hedge-trimming ban is usually in place between March 16 - August 15, as part of European regulations to protect biodiversity.
It applies to farmers and other professionals, and to hedges on agricultural and public land.
Heavy winter rainfall meant that in the worst-affected departments, areas remained waterlogged or flooded for several weeks and farmers were unable to access hedges to trim them prior to the typical deadline.
The deadline has been extended in some departments, giving farmers extra time to trim these hedges without risking a fine.
In the Ardèche, Finistère, and Dordogne departments for example, the deadline has been extended to April 1, and in communes around Périgord an even later April 15 deadline is in place – the list can be seen here.
In Haute-Garonne, the new department-wide deadline is April 15, provided farmers can provide justification for why they could not cut the hedge before the usual deadline.
If you are located in an area of France that saw significant rainfall this winter, check with your local mairie or on the prefecture website for any changes to regulations.
In all cases, the ban lasts until August 15, 2026, the usual end date.
Are homeowners affected by deadline?
These rules apply to agricultural professionals and professionals, such as those working on public or state-owned land.
Homeowners are – in most cases – simply recommended not to trim hedges on their land between March 15 - August 15, as they may destroy bird nests or impact local biodiversity.
Outright bans and accompanying fines are rare for individuals although certain communes do have such limitations in place, so it is worthwhile to check with your mairie before undertaking any work.
The hedge-trimming ban does not prevent homeowners from carrying out mandatory garden cleaning before summer in areas where débroussaillage rules are in place, to help limit the spread of wildfires.
