I have a hive in my backyard. My neighborhood allows no fences. I have very gentle bees. I can even mow around my hive with no disturbance whatsoever to the bees. However, I will tell you that I have the entrance to the hive pointed in a direction where no one will walk, mow, . . . , etc. in front of the hive.
The front of your hive will be BOOMING with activity when the hive is fully established. 300 bees coming and going per minute. Bees will fly low until they have to rise to get over an obstacle. You do not want a tornado of bees streaming in and out of your hive, low, over your neighbors property (or yours).
The funny thing that I learned during my first year (this year) is that the bees want nothing to do with my yard. Neighbor's, blocks away keep telling me of how many of my bees they see. I see none!
Ken