Unauthorized burning and cultivation of cannabis in dachas could lead to financial penalties for the property owners.

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Fire up the grill... but not too close to home!

Photo: Yevgeniya GUSEVA.

Forget about the tales of lax rules out at the dacha. Our investigation of legal experts reveals that these backyard oases are indeed under the watchful eye of the law. And it's usually your neighbors and garden association chairmen complaining that land you thought was all yours.

So, let's refresh our memories on some straight-up dos and don'ts when it comes to your 600-square-meter slice of paradise.

Flare up that grill, but follow the rules

Embers from the Political Heart to Ashes: A Cinderella Story Embers from the Political Heart to Ashes: A Cinderella Story Fire safety guidelines require culinary creativity on your patch of land only when employing specialized devices – grills, outdoor grills, and their ilk. But don't be a rookie – there are some ground rules to obey:

Keep the grill at least 5 meters away from the house.
Make sure a safe 2-meter zone around the grill is free of flammable items like dead leaves, trash, and wooden patio furniture.

Ignoring these regulations could cost you from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles during regular season, or 10,000 to 20,000 rubles in dry and high-risk times.

Bonfires: Not just for blizzard seasons

Burning trash, branches, or dead wood should be done with care and caution both on your plot and within the field. Setting a bonfire during dry weather can cause a stir with the law enforcement. But fear not – there's a way to have a crackling fire safely:

Dig a 30 cm deep, 1 meter in diameter pit.
Position the fire 15 meters away from the nearest buildings.
Keep a 10-meter radius around the fire free from flammable objects.

Don't forget to keep an eye on the fire and have a simple fire extinguisher on hand – it's not safe to leave the fire unattended!

Violating these rules could cost you 5,000 to 15,000 rubles, while the fine may jump to 10,000 to 20,000 rubles during dry seasons.

Say goodbye to the indigo vine

In February 2024, the government lengthened the list of narcotic and psychotropic plants to include the indigo morning glory. While many people cultivated it for its visually stunning flowers, only one specific variety is now banned – it sports large, azure, blue-veined, or white flowers with yellow centers, and smooth, heart-shaped leaves. The related purple morning glory isn't on the naughty list.

Get rid of the unwanted indigo species on your dacha.

The indigo morning glory is just one of many plants on the banned list, including cannabis, turbinaria, blue lotus, mimosa hostilis, and more. For a full list, check out the government website.

Ignoring this might cost you 3,000 to 5,000 rubles (or up to 15 days of jail time if more than 10 bushes exist on your plot), or even up to two years in prison under Article 231 of the Criminal Code.

Weeding out the Unwanted

Problems with weed control can create a stir as well. Be vigilant of flammable and invasive species – they can pose a threat to both your neighbors and the environment. Talk to your gardening friends to make sure you're on the same page when it comes to addressing the weed issue.

Fines for failure to control weeds can range from 300 to 500 rubles, depending on regional regulations.

Scrubbing the Ride

Washing your car on the garden plot can be considered a breach of environmental and sanitation laws. The dirty water can harm nature, and car cleaning products can pose additional threats to the environment.

In some regions, washing your car anywhere outside designated areas is forbidden. For example, this is the case in the Moscow region.

Breaching these regulations can cost you from 100 to 500 rubles for harming public health, up to 5,000 rubles in zones with stricter regulations or when soil contamination is present.

Keep your spade in the ground

Placing a toilet near a well is a violation of sanitary norms and should be done properly. Here's what you need to do:

Keep the toilet at least 12 meters from the neighboring house.
Maintain at least 8 meters between the toilet and the well or borehole.

Violating these norms can cost you anywhere from 100 to 5,000 rubles, depending on the circumstances and accusations.

Keep the peace, Keep the quiet

Noise restrictions apply to dachas as well, not just apartments. Night time "quiet hours" can fluctuate from 10 PM to 8 AM, but be prepared for differences in regional hours. For example, in the Moscow region, noise is strictly prohibited from 9 PM to 7 AM on weekdays and from 8 PM to 10 AM on weekends.

Ignoring these rules can cost you from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles.

Digging up saplings... is for nurseries, not the dacha

Transplanting pine, rowan, or other cute little trees from the forest to your dacha is just as illegal as unauthorized felling, even of deadwood. So, stick to nursery-purchased saplings or borrow a few from your friendly neighbor.

Fines for removing trees without permission can cost you 3,000 to 4,000 rubles.

The Fine Print

Land Encroachment

Snatching a half-meter of your neighbor's land by slightly moving a fence might seem like a harmless act, but it's actually a violation of the law – from unauthorized fencing all the way up to land grabbing, depending on the scale of the trespass.

Fines range from 1% to 1.5% of the property value or 5,000 rubles (whichever is greater) based on the size of the land occupied.

Always respect property boundaries, and consult local cadastral maps for clarity.

Here are the sentences containing the given words:

This 600-square-meter slice of paradise could be your dacha, where you require following specific precautions.
Make sure your grill doesn't violate any regulations, as it requires being kept at least 5 meters away from the house.
You might need to take certain precautions when it comes to bonfires, such as digging a 30 cm deep, 1 meter in diameter pit and keeping a 10-meter radius around the fire free from flammable objects.
Ignoring these rules could cost you up to two years in prison under Article 231 of the Criminal Code when it comes to the indigo morning glory, which is one of many plants on the banned list.