Many landowners undertake the maintenance of their roadside hedges themselves, however local authorities continue to send out hundreds of notices each year to remind individuals of the need to keep roadside verges in check.

The Irish Farmers Journal contacted all local authorities to see how much of said correspondence was sent.

At 476, Carlow County Council issued the most notifications in the country and all but six were complied with to date. In Cork, 313 notices were sent out to landowners and Cork County Council said it proactively engages with landowners on this issue of hedge cutting as the quickest and most effective method of ensuring landowner action and compliance.

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Tipperary County Council sent out 125 letters and 62 formal notices and it operates on an escalation process. Press advertisement is the first step followed by speaking to landowners. If no progress is made, letters are sent with a formal notice requiring action. The final step is for the county council to take legal action. By the start of September, it had achieved 81% compliance.

In the hedge-cutting season from 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026, Waterford City and County Council issued 138 Section 70 Notices.

Limerick City and County Council issued one, with 55 letters sent reminding landowners of their obligations.

Cavan County Council issued 69 notices with 38 not complied with to date while in Monaghan 21 correspondence letters were sent but only one notice under the Road Traffic Act 1993.

There were also 21 hedge-cutting notices issued in Co Meath and in five cases, the registered owner could not be identified.

Legal action

Donegal County Council responded saying less than 10 notices would be issued annually and most are adhered to before legal action is required. Similarly, Clare, Kildare and Wicklow county councils reported sending out only a single digit figure of notifications, but more are expected between now and the closing of the hedge-cutting season at the end of February.

A number of county councils, including those in Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo, issued no hedge-cutting notices so far this year.

Closed period

Under section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, hedgerow cutting and destruction is generally prohibited from 1 March to 31 August.

However, there are a number of limited exemptions. These are provided for under section 70 of the Road Traffic Act 1993 and allow for landowners and public authorities to address hedges where they present a hazard for road safety reasons at any time of year.

The hedge-cutting season officially opened on 1 September and it will run until 28 February.