Unverified Info on Penalties for Setting Up Blind Fences in Residential Plots - Unconfirmed Report
No Fines for Installing Private Fences, Here's What You Need to Know
Contrary to some rumors, there's no truth to the claim that installing solid fences between dacha plots could lead to fines of up to 10,000 rubles in Russia.
Alexander Yakubovsky, a member of the State Duma committee on construction and housing and communal services, debunked these claims, stating that no new federal law, government decree, or other regulatory act came into force on June 9 or any other day in 2025, prohibiting solid fences between plots.
Neither the Land Code nor the Code of Administrative Offenses contain norms providing for fines for this type of fencing. However, if a fence violates someone's rights, such as limiting sunlight, it could become the subject of a lawsuit between neighbors. In such a case, the court may order the demolition of the fence as a private law dispute, but not an administrative penalty.
Yakubovsky emphasized that the installation of a solid fence is possible if it follows local requirements. In case of doubts, he suggested obtaining written consent from neighbors or consulting with the local administration.
## Can Your Boss Really Stop You from Drinking Tea at Work?
In Russia, employers usually have the authority to set internal workplace rules, including those related to employee behavior and food or beverage consumption. A recent report revealed that a Russian lawyer clarified that an employer can legally prohibit employees from drinking tea at work if they establish and communicate this rule to staff members [1].
Although there are no specific legal provisions in Russian labor law that explicitly sanction or allow tea consumption at work, the employer's discretion in setting workplace rules generally applies. The employer's actions should be based on legitimate business interests, such as safety, hygiene, or productivity, and applied non-discriminatorily.
Employees who object to these workplace restrictions can voice their concerns internally. As long as the employer's actions are lawful and not arbitrary, courts are likely to uphold such internal regulations [1].
[1] Enrichment Data - Overall: In Russia, employers generally have the authority to establish internal workplace rules and regulations, including those that concern employee behavior and consumption of food or beverages on the premises. According to a recent report, a Russian lawyer clarified that an employer may legally prohibit employees from drinking tea at the workplace if such a rule is established and communicated to staff members, as long as it is based on legitimate business interests and applied non-discriminatorily [1]. There are no specific legal provisions in Russian labor law that explicitly permit or forbid the drinking of tea at work [1]. Employees who disagree with such workplace restrictions can address their concerns internally, but as long as the employer's actions are lawful and not arbitrary, courts are likely to uphold such internal regulations [1].
- The debunking of claims about fines for installing private fences in Russia demonstrates that politics and policy-and-legislation do not always dictate an employer's internal workplace rules, such as the restriction on drinking tea at work.
- In contrast to the clear rules about solid fences between plots in Russia, the consumption of tea at work is not explicitly regulated by policy-and-legislation, falling instead under the discretion of employers based on general-news reports.
