Southampton: Trim your hedges, or else

Mind your hedges.

Residents who live in Southampton Village will have to abide by a new law that requires homeowners to keep hedges between properties trimmed.

The Boundary Line Hedges ordinance states that vegetation that serves as hedges between homes must be cut and trimmed on the top and neighbor’s side by July 31 each year. It also stipulates that homeowners must obtain written permission from their neighbors before going over on their property to cut the other side of the hedges.

The law passed unanimously at Thursday night’s village board meeting.

If the owner of the hedges fails to abide by the law, the neighbor may, with 30 days of written notice to the owner, alert the village. If the ownership of the hedges is in dispute, the complaining homeowner must get a survey to determine ownership.

Fines are up to $1,000 and imprisonment of 15 days.