A front fence is any fence or part of a fence forward of the dwelling, while a secondary street fence is a fence along the secondary street of a corner lot. A building permit may be required for a front or secondary street fence depending on the height and materials used.

In addition to the information below, some estate developers restrict the colour, type and/or height of fences. These limitations may be set out in the estate design guidelines, a detailed area plan or a restrictive covenant registered on the land title.

For more information: check your land title or contact the estate developer.

Front fences

A front fence may be constructed of masonry, timber, wrought iron, colour-bonded metal or tubular steel.

Using these materials, a building permit is required if:

  • the fence is more than 0.75 metres in height and constructed of masonry or similar (e.g. brick, limestone, concrete panels); or
  • the fence is more than 1.2 metres in height and constructed of materials other than masonry (e.g. pickets, tubular steel); or
  • the fence is to be constructed within 8 metres of a street corner and is more than 0.75 metres high.

Other materials may be considered with an application for building permit, but front fences incorporating razor wire, electrified wire or fibrous cement sheeting are not permitted on residential land.

A front fence may be visually permeable (see-through) up to 1.8 metres in height, with piers up to 2 metres. Solid fencing is acceptable to a maximum height of 1.2 metres, however solid fencing adjacent to a street corner should not exceed 0.75 metres without considerations being made for vehicle sightlines. Fencing abutting a driveway should include a 1.5 metres clear truncation, or be visually permeable above 0.75 metres.

Secondary street fencing

A secondary street fence may be constructed of masonry, timber, wrought iron, colour-bonded metal or tubular steel.

Using these materials, a building permit is required if:

  • the fence is more than 0.75 metres in height and constructed of masonry or similar (e.g. brick, limestone, concrete panels); or
  • the fence is more than 1.8 metres in height and constructed of materials other than masonry (e.g. pickets, colorbond); or
  • the fence is to be constructed within 8 metres of a street corner and is more than 0.75 metres high.

Other materials may be considered with an application for building permit, but fences incorporating razor wire or electrified wire are not permitted on residential land.

More information

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