A building permit is required for some fences and you must notify neighbours of any fencing change.
A dividing (boundary) fence is a fence built to separate two pieces of adjoining land. It may or may not be located on the common boundary between the pieces of land. The location of the dividing fence depends on the agreement between neighbours. The dividing fence might be located off the common boundary if, for example, there is an obstruction or waterway on the common boundary.
A dividing fence:
- is not a front boundary fence
- does not include a retaining wall or any wall that is part of a house, garage or other building (although sometimes these types of walls may mean that a dividing fence is not needed for part of the boundary).
Some fences require a permit. It depends on the height of the fence, the material it is made with and its location on the property.
| Works |
Building permit required? |
| Building a side fence up to 2m high |
No |
| Building a brick front fence more than 1.2m high |
Yes |
| Building a timber front fence less than 1.5m in height and not within 9m of a point of intersection of street alignments |
No |
| Building a side or boundary fence more than 2m high |
Yes |
| Building a fence that is more than 1m high, and not within 9m of a point of intersection of street alignments (corner block) |
Yes |
| Building a chain wire tennis court fence |
No |
Apply for a building permit
Under the Fences Act 1968, the property owner and the neighbour are equally responsible for any dividing fences. The Act outlines:
- Who will pay for it
- What type to build
- What notices to send each other
- How to resolve disputes
Please note, the above may not apply where properties are:
- Adjacent to Crown land
- Adjacent to “Roads”, including road reserves, footpaths, laneways, walkways and right of ways.
- Adjacent to other authorities land such as Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP), Goulburn Murray Water, VicTrack etc
For more information visit Fencing in Victoria (Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria)
You can use a fencing notice form to set out your proposal for construction or repair of a dividing fence and request they contribute to the cost.
Fencing Notice (Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria)
If the adjoining landowner doesn’t live at the property you can request ownership details from Council. You can only use this information for the purpose of arranging the construction of a fence.
Request property owner information
Victorian local councils cannot help with fencing disputes between neighbours. The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria offers a free, confidential service provided by the Department of Justice. You do not have to be in a dispute to use their services. They can provide information and advice prior to approaching your neighbour regarding a fencing issue. However, if you are in a dispute, they also provide a range of free resolution services.
For more information visit Fencing in Victoria (Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria)
In accordance with the Fences Act 1968 and Fences Amendment Act 2014, Council will contribute half the reasonable cost of constructing, repairing or replacing a sufficient dividing fence abutting a property with a building occupied by Council ie: Municipal Office, Depots.
Part 1 Section 4 (2)(c) of the Fences Act 1968 states that for the purposes of the ‘Act’ owner does not include — a municipal council, trustee or other person or body in respect of land owned by or vested in, or under the care, control or management of, the municipal Council, trustee, person or body for the purposes of a public park or public reserve.
Fencing contribution from Council
The ‘Act‘, excludes Council and others who own and manage land for the purposes of a public park or public reserve from contributing to the cost of a boundary fence. These include:
- Drainage reserves
- Municipal and recreational reserves
- Municipal car parks
- Playgrounds
- Roads and right-of-ways
- Tree and plantation reserves
Council will not contribute to the cost of constructing, repairing or replacing the fencing abutting a public park or public reserve unless the exemption in this policy applies.
Council may choose to contribute in some circumstances, but the Fences Act does not require this.
Exemption for Pensioners’ Principal Place of Residence
Council will contribute half the reasonable cost of constructing, repairing or replacing the fencing abutting an open public reserve, excluding roads and right-of-ways, when the abutting private land is the principal place of residence of a homeowner eligible for the Municipal Rates Concession.
Pensioners and Veteran Affairs Gold Card holders are eligible for Municipal Rates Concession.
For more information visit Fencing in Victoria (Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria)
Half cost fencing enquiries
For half cost fencing enquiries email engineering@swanhill.vic.gov.au