No direct statute — neighbour law governs, and you can be liable if you kill the tree

Updated July 2026

🌳 Can I cut branches that hang over onto my lot?

With conditions

Quick answer

Unclear — no single provision in Icelandic law tells you that you may cut your neighbour's branches, and none forbids it either. This area is largely uncodified and governed by neighbour law (grenndarréttur): unwritten principles of neighbourly relations and case law, not a single statute. The only thing clearly set out in the rules is the planting itself: under section 7.2.3 of Building Regulation no. 112/2012 tall tree species may not be planted closer to the boundary than 4 m, and vegetation on a shared boundary may be at most 1.8 m high unless both owners agree otherwise. The myth: that the law gives you an absolute right to saw off anything hanging over the line. Wrong — in practice you may trim what reaches onto your lot, but you should do it moderately, tell the neighbour, and you can be liable in damages if you harm or kill the tree. Conversely, the neighbour usually has to show substantial nuisance before a court will order a tree removed.

📋 The rules

No specific statute governs cutting a neighbour's overhanging branches in Iceland; the question falls under neighbour law (grenndarréttur) — unwritten principles and case law, not a single act.
Tall tree species may not be planted closer to the boundary than 4 m under section 7.2.3 of Building Regulation no. 112/2012.
Vegetation on a shared boundary may be at most 1.8 m high unless both lot owners agree otherwise.
In practice you may cut branches and roots that reach onto your own lot, but you should do it moderately and ideally tell the neighbour first.
If vegetation grows out over a street, pavement or open area, the road authority can remove that part at the owner's cost after a warning — but that power does not extend to a neighbour over a private boundary.

🔓 Exceptions

If the tree causes substantial and unusual nuisance (e.g. root damage or heavy shading), the neighbour may have a claim for remedy on the basis of neighbour law.
If the tree is protected or under district conservation in the local plan, it may neither be felled nor heavily cut without authorisation, wherever the branches lie.
Municipalities set their own limits for vegetation height along the street (in Reykjavik, e.g. 1.2 m at the pavement and 1.5 m at open areas); these take precedence over the general 1.8 m guide in those places.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

There is no fine here — the consequences are civil. If you cut the neighbour's branches too harshly and damage the tree, or fell it without authorisation, the neighbour can claim damages for the value of the tree and the repair, and the amount depends on the loss rather than a fixed table. That is why the uncodified nature of the matter is itself the risk: without a clear provision you cannot know in advance where the line lies, and the dispute ends in lawyers' letters or in court, where the cost can far exceed the trees. If the tree is protected or conserved in the plan, felling it can bring both damages and penalties from the municipality. The hidden cost is the communication: courts look at whether you gave notice in advance and acted moderately, so whoever saws first and asks later is worse off. The safest course is a written agreement with the neighbour before the saw comes out.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I cut my neighbour's branches that hang over onto my lot?

There is no ban on it in statute law, and in practice you may remove branches that reach in over your lot boundary. You should, however, do it moderately and ideally tell the neighbour first, because uncodified neighbour law can make you liable in damages if you cause the tree unnecessary harm.

Is there a provision on how far a tree must stand from the boundary?

Yes, section 7.2.3 of Building Regulation no. 112/2012 forbids planting tall tree species closer to the boundary than four metres. Vegetation standing on the shared boundary itself may be at most 1.8 metres high, unless both lot owners agree on a different arrangement.

Can I be liable in damages if I cut the tree?

Yes, if you cut too harshly and cause the tree lasting damage or kill it, the neighbour may have a claim for damages, because the question is governed by neighbour law and general rules on liability. The amount is based on the loss itself rather than a fixed table, and courts look at whether you acted moderately and gave notice in advance.

Can my neighbour force me to fell a tree that shades their property?

Not unless they can show substantial and unusual nuisance, such as heavy shading or root damage, because shade alone rarely suffices. The question turns on neighbour law and a balancing of both sides' interests, and the outcome can depend on the local conditions, the height of the tree and what counts as normal in the neighbourhood.

Are there special rules for vegetation along the street or pavement?

Yes, municipalities set their own limits for the height of vegetation along streets and open areas; in Reykjavik, for example, vegetation may be at most 1.2 metres at the pavement and 1.5 metres at open areas. If vegetation grows out over the street or pavement, the road authority can remove that part at the owner's cost after a warning has been given.

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