My neighbor's branches, wall or rainwater are coming onto my property in Peru: what can I do?

Branches and roots: the right is yours

This is the most common complaint between neighbors with houses. The Civil Code settles it in one line. Article 967 says:

“Todo propietario puede cortar las ramas de los árboles que se extiendan sobre el predio y las raíces que lo invadan. Cuando sea necesario, podrá recurrir a la autoridad municipal o judicial para el ejercicio de estos derechos.”

(Every owner may cut branches of trees that extend over the property and roots that invade it. When necessary, they may turn to the municipal or judicial authority to exercise these rights.)

What this means for you:

• You may cut what reaches your side. Branches over your land and roots under it.
• You may not cut down the tree. The article speaks of branches and roots, not the tree or anything on your neighbor’s side.
• The article says nothing more. It does not say you must warn your neighbor first, who pays for the cutting, or what happens to the fruit. Warning them in writing is still wise: it keeps the dispute from growing.
• If you cannot do it alone, because it is dangerous or your neighbor objects, the same article points you to the municipality or a judge.

If roots or a fallen branch already damaged your home, cutting does not cover that. The general rule in article 1969 does: “Aquel que por dolo o culpa causa un daño a otro está obligado a indemnizarlo. El descargo por falta de dolo o culpa corresponde a su autor.” (Whoever causes harm to another through intent or fault must compensate it. The burden of proving no intent or fault falls on the person who caused it.) In other words, your neighbor has to prove they were not at fault.

Rainwater falling onto your property

Article 964 is short:

“El propietario no puede hacer que las aguas correspondientes al predio discurran en los predios vecinos, salvo pacto distinto.”

(An owner may not make the water belonging to their property run onto neighboring properties, unless otherwise agreed.)

The article does not mention rain or roofs. Our reading is that water collected by your neighbor’s roof, gutter or patio is “water belonging to the property”, and they may not direct it onto yours. The exception is an agreement between you.

If the water already caused dampness or damage, article 1969 applies again. If the water comes from an apartment above you in a building, the situation is different: see water leaks between floors or apartments.

Related: article 963 requires distances and precautions when a “depósito para agua o materias húmedas” (tank for water or damp materials), an oven, a chimney or similar works are built near the boundary. Failing to follow them “puede dar lugar al cierre o retiro de la obra y a la indemnización de daños y perjuicios” (can lead to the work being closed or removed and to compensation for damages).

Overhangs, balconies and what passes over your land

Article 954 sets how far your ownership reaches:

“La propiedad del predio se extiende al subsuelo y al sobresuelo, comprendidos dentro de los planos verticales del perímetro superficial y hasta donde sea útil al propietario el ejercicio de su derecho.”

(Ownership of the property extends to the subsoil and the space above it, within the vertical planes of its surface boundary and as far as is useful to the owner.)

Picture vertical lines rising from the edge of your land. What falls inside them, above and below, is yours as far as it is useful to you. We read a balcony, eave or roof that crosses that line onto your side as intruding on your airspace. The Civil Code has no specific article on overhangs. Technical building rules are in the Reglamento Nacional de Edificaciones and municipal rules, which this page did not review. If the work was built without a permit, see building without a license.

Fences and shared walls

Article 965 says: “El propietario de un predio tiene derecho a cercarlo.” (The owner of a property has the right to fence it.) And when something already stands between two properties, article 994 presumes it belongs to both:

“Las paredes, cercos o zanjas situados entre dos predios se presumen comunes, mientras no se pruebe lo contrario.”

(Walls, fences or ditches between two properties are presumed shared, unless proven otherwise.)

This is called medianería. The main rules:

The last rule causes the most arguments. Your neighbor cannot avoid paying for repairs to the shared wall by saying they do not use it. The only way out is to give up their share in it.

If the wall or fence threatens to collapse

Article 956 says: “Si alguna obra amenaza ruina, quien tenga legítimo interés puede pedir la reparación, la demolición o la adopción de medidas preventivas.” (If a structure threatens to collapse, anyone with a legitimate interest may ask for its repair, demolition or preventive measures.)

If the danger is immediate, article 959 allows work on the other property: “El propietario no puede impedir que en su predio se ejecuten actos para servicios provisorios de las propiedades vecinas, que eviten o conjuren un peligro actual o inminente, pero se le indemnizará por los daños y perjuicios causados.” (An owner cannot prevent temporary work on their property for neighboring properties that averts a present or imminent danger, but must be compensated for any damage caused.)

And if repairing your wall requires scaffolding or passing materials through your neighbor’s side, article 960 says that, when it is indispensable, “el dueño de éste debe consentirlo, recibiendo indemnización por los daños y perjuicios que se le causen” (the owner must allow it, and is compensated for any damage caused).

What this page does not cover

We did not review the Reglamento Nacional de Edificaciones, municipal ordinances on trees, fences or storm drainage, or court rulings on these articles. We do not cover whether there is a minimum distance for planting trees near the boundary, or trees on public streets. We also do not cover how compensation is calculated or the court process. For noise and fumes, see noise and neighbor disturbances; for crossing a neighbor’s land, see right-of-way easements.