Building permit for a fence.
Most fences in Victoria do not need a building permit. The limit is 2 m high, with lower limits near the street and on corner blocks.
Height limits for an exempt fence
- No more than 2 m high.
- Within 3 m of a street, no more than 1.5 m high, or 1.2 m if it is masonry, concrete or a similar material.
- Within 9 m of the point where two street alignments meet, no more than 1 m above the footpath.
A lane, footway, alley or right of way does not count as a street for these limits. A chain wire fence around a tennis court is exempt.
Schedule 3 exempts a fence from every regulation except regulation 89(1) and Schedule 6. If your land is in a planning zone listed in Schedule 6, and the zone's schedule sets a maximum height for a fence within 3 m of the front street, an exempt fence must not be higher than that.
Fences that need a permit
- Any fence over the limits above.
- A fence that forms part of a swimming pool or spa barrier. See pools and spas.
- A fence around an outdoor play space for a children's service, such as a childcare centre.
Dividing fences
Sharing the cost of a dividing fence with your neighbour falls under the Fences Act 1968. That is separate from building permits.
Request a quote
Request a quote online, or email what you have to info@cortekgroup.com.au, and we will quote a fixed fee for your building permit. For the permit itself we will need:
- The certificate of title and plan of subdivision, with any covenants or section 173 agreements
- Drawings issued for construction
- The engineer's drawings, computations and design certificate
- The planning permit and endorsed plans, if the project needs one
- If a builder is doing the work, the contract extract and, where it applies, the domestic building insurance certificate
- If you are an owner-builder, your certificate of consent from the BPC, where one is required
- A bushfire assessment, if the site is in a bushfire prone area
The full list is in our checklist for verandahs, carports, decks, sheds and garages.