Quote Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
I don't know about Portugal, but here and in many countries there are local byelaws and/or national planning laws that restrict what one can or cannot do with one's garden. Planting tree species that grow to enormous heights and over-shadow one's neighbours is one such common prohibition, allowing refuse to fester and create a health hazard and haven for rats might be another. Many residential communities have local agreements to ensure that gardens are neat and tidy.

Peculiar local ordinances, confused old ladies and aggressive police officers are not the sole purview of the United States.
Thank you. I was getting scared reading some of the responses before this.