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Fencing and planning permits

 

Check if you need a planning permit for a new fence

You may need a planning permit to build, demolish or modify your fence. This depends on:

  • the zone and overlays that affect your property
  • the height and location of the proposed fence.

To check the the planning controls, zones and overlays that affect your property, visit Vicplan and search the affected property address.

  • If your property is in a heritage overlay and your fence is visible from the street frontage
  • If your property is in a heritage overlay and you want to demolish a fence
  • If your property is in the Environmental Significance Overlay (Schedule 3)
  • If your property is in the Significant Landscape Overlay and you want to build a fence within 30m of the Yarra River or abutting public open space, a permit is required unless:
    • The proposed fence does not exceed a maximum height of 1.4 metres at any point above ground level, and
    • The proposed fence is constructed of timber post and rail, timber post and wire, or metal post and wire construction

 

You may also need a planning permit for the proposed fence for other reasons, including if:

  • The fence you are proposing to build is a front fence (or within 3 m of the front of the property) and would be more than 1.5 metres high, or
  • There is an active planning permit for your property, which is relevant to fencing, or
  • Your property is located in the Urban Floodway Zone, Special Building Overlay, Land Subject to Inundation Overlay or Design and Development Overlay

You can contact the planning team if you require assistance.

What you'll need

If you need to submit a planning permit application for a fence, this is the information you’ll need to provide. 

  • Completed application form, which you will fill in online when you lodge your application
  • A copy of your certificate of title and register search statement from Landata that is no more than three months old
  • ​A full copy of any restrictive covenants or section 173 agreements
  • The applicable Fee. Learn more on our fees page.
  • A full set of plans which must include:
    • Elevation drawings to scale showing the height (From NGL - Natural Ground Level), colour and materials of all proposed fencing.
    • An existing and proposed site plan including:
      • The title boundaries of the site
      • The location of existing buildings on the site
      • The location, length and height (from NGL) of any existing fence proposed to be demolished
      • The location, length and height (from NGL) of any proposed new fence
  • A cover letter to explain the proposal, and written justification about how your proposal responds to the relevant planning policies within the City of Yarra Planning Scheme. This is especially helpful if your proposed front fence is over 1.5m high or not of a typical design within the area.
  • Plan of Survey from a licensed land surveyor.
  • Details regarding the surrounding neighbourhood context.
  • A materials schedule if an effective way to display the colour, materiality and design of your new fence.
  • Hand-drawn plans may be acceptable for your application, you may also decide to use annotated photographs and representative imagery. Alternatively, you may wish to engage a person suitably qualified to prepare architectural plans which often tends to show your proposal more clearly.
For more information