How is the required distance measured when determining whether a window is too close to a neighbor's property — does it differ for direct views and oblique views?

Two different measuring points for two kinds of view

Article 671 of the Civil Code sets out the measurement rules for window-distance requirements: "The distance referred to in the preceding article shall be measured in cases of direct views from the outer line of the wall when the openings do not project, from the outer line of the latter when they do, and in cases of oblique view from the dividing line between the two properties." The provision establishes that the starting point for measurement depends on whether the view is direct or oblique — and for direct views, it further depends on whether the opening projects beyond the wall or sits flush with it.

Measuring direct views

A direct view is one that looks straight — perpendicularly — toward or onto the neighboring property. For this type of view, the distance is measured from the outer face of the wall containing the window or opening, if the opening is set into the wall without any projection. If the opening does project outward — as a bay window, balcony, or other element that extends beyond the wall surface — then the measurement starts from the outer edge of that projection. The logic is consistent: distance is counted from the outermost physical point of the opening, wherever it happens to be.

Measuring oblique views

An oblique or side view is one that looks sideways toward the neighbor's property at an angle — through a window on a side wall, for example. For oblique views, Article 671 uses a different starting point altogether: the dividing line between the two properties — the boundary itself. This is a stricter baseline in one respect, because the boundary is typically further from the window than the outer wall face is. The minimum oblique-view distance in Article 670 is sixty centimeters, measured from that boundary line.

Why the measuring method matters in a dispute

When a neighbor challenges whether your window complies with the law, the measuring method determines whether the distance is satisfied. A window that appears to be far enough from the boundary when measured from the wall face may fall short when the measurement correctly starts from the outer edge of a protruding balcony. Similarly, a side window that looks clear when measured from the wall might not meet the sixty-centimeter requirement when measured from the boundary line as Article 671 requires. Getting the measurement right — using the correct starting point for the type of view involved — is the threshold question before any dispute about compliance can be resolved.

Related provisions

• Civil Code, Article 671 — How Distances Are Measured