Just moved in to a series of row houses with no fencing but our own garden.

We bought a trampoline with us and the kids have loved it. The next door neighbour complained today that it was very ugly, that she had not seen such a big one ever in Switzerland - she is much more used to trees and flowers in the garden etc. She even said she did not know if it is legal.

The trampoline is about round, say 3.6m diameter and has a net to stop our young kids bouncing out - the floor is say 0.8m above the ground and the net reaches into the sky for another 1.6m.

Other children are keen and we are happy for them to play as well and other neighbours are okay with this.

Any advice on this as we are new to Swizterland

We have the same type of trampoline in our garden

You can ignore your neighbours comments, there is nothing she can do about the visual aspect of the trampoline.

Of course, if your children jump and scream and laugh at 0300 or during the holy midday quiet period on a Sunday then she has the right to complain that the kids are disturbing the peace.

But she cannot complain about what she thinks is an "ugly" trampoline. You can respond back and say you think it is pretty and beautiful :-)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say...

As for legalities?
You, as a parent, have the obligation to make sure the trampoline is in good sound working order and your children or other children won't be hurt through your negligence (ie: if you didn't maintain the tramp or ignored a ripped mat etc)

Otherwise, it's your tramp on your property...

Can the "body corporate" (or whatever is the equivalent) make rules for the row houses???

Even in row house you should have a piece that is exclusively yours. If this is the case, there are rules to respect in terms of putting plants or objects on the limit between two properties.
Normally, if an object or a plant/tree is over 2 m high, you need to place it 1m away from the property limit.
I believe it is the only thing that they can get you on. Trampoline is not a building, it is a movable object, so just ignore.

We have the same story with our neighbors over the playground that we installed. They threatened to go to court and all that. I asked our local commune representative to look at it and they said there is no legal basis for complaint. Since then they have left us alone.

There are loads of trampolines here. Your neighbour just hasn't seem them. I am going to guess your neighbour has no children. It is your own garden and I am assuming the edge of the trampoline is not sitting right on the boundary line. I don't see the issue as long as the noise made from kids having a good time(imagine !!!) is not outside the permitted hours. Do you cut your own grass or does someone cut the entire area?

I speak from the other perspective...
Our Swiss neighbours have one (we are also in a row house) and it seems like open house for all the kids in the village. Now I love kids but as a neighbour you can only take so much of kids screaming. As long as you can agree about some timing I dont see a problem - no Sundays for example. We had occasions of a succession of kids all day on a Saturday from morn till night. This was too much and we asked them to limit it to certain times. It was simply impossible to sit in the garden with the noise. It needs co-operation dont assume your neighbours love your kids like you do!
all the best

Thanks all for your comments as it does make me feel like I am not being too culturally insensitive on this issue.

The kids are certainly asked to play quietly although as we all know it is a struggle but the trampoline is used say 30min per day and certainly not at inconvenient times.

Thanks also for the comments about possible rules.

I have since found out that the pace we live is about 30 years old and was a haven for small kids when first built and now we are getting a generational change as the first residents are getting old and the newer residents are moving in with kids.

Cheers

Tell her to stand next to it, if she wants to make it look beautiful by comparison.

It is legal, it is not a permanent fixture, therefore does not require a permit.

As long as the kids are not on it after 10pm and before 7am, possibly also between 12 and 2, depending on your local rules, she will have to learn to live with it.

In fact, invite all the other neighbours with kids!

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I visited our friends with two kids who have the above mentioned trampoline put up in the garden. It's lots of fun for kids and even adults might be tempted to give it a try but watch out not to fly over the boundary of your property into the neigbours hedge
Luckily the neighbours next door have kids in similar age and both families understand each other well on the same wavelength.

As far as such installation is concerned, it's not permament, it can easily be disassembled and as long as it isn't on the neigbour's property, I will not see any legal issue unless the noise generated by fun and joy affects the elderly generation, but only in specific hours defined by the law.

I would invite your friend over, host him with some wine or beer and let him/her have a few "up's and down's" on the trampoline. Maybe he/she will change her mind. Good luck

Can I give you my 2 cents worth Our quartier bought a trampoline. They even agreed with the home owners association on the times (9am-12pm, 2-8pm). Sadly not every loves this trampoline nur do the kids adhear to the times. 2 weeks ago someone sabbatoged the trampoline cutting the bottom out. It was replace and not even up 2 days before someone stole the bottom again. Petty, but you cant please everyone. I'd tread with caution with your neighbors because the Swiss can be brutal.