Find out if you need a planning permit to demolish or construct a front fence and how to apply.
You might also need a building permit, depending on the fence’s location, height, or materials. To learn more, visit Do I need a building permit?
When you need a planning permit
Land in an overlay
You need a planning permit if your property is in a:
- Heritage Overlay (including demolition of existing fencing)
- Special Building Overlay
- Land Subject to Inundation Overlay.
You might need a planning permit if your land is in a:
- Design and Development Overlay
- Significant Landscape Overlay.
To find out your property's overlays, visit Zones and overlays.
Heritage Overlay design guidelines
If you’re in a Heritage Overlay, you need a planning permit to demolish or construct a front fence. Proposed fences should be low and open, so the heritage property is easily visible from the street.
New front fences and gates should generally be:
- less than 1.2 metres in height
- more than 50% transparent unless low solid fencing is characteristic of original fencing in the area.
Front fences over 1.2 metres in height and security gates are discouraged.
For more information, download our Heritage Design Guidelines(PDF, 6MB).
Tall fences
If you’re in a residential zone, you need a planning permit if your fence is within 3 metres of the street and:
- over 1.5 metres in height and you’re in a side street
- over 2 metres in height and you’re on a main road.
Documents to prepare
When applying for a planning permit, you must supply the following documents.
General
- a Copy of Title, including relevant lot plan and any restrictions listed on title - you can order title from land data.
- photos of the existing front fence and neighbouring fences.
Demolition plans and elevations (if needed)
North orientation and at a scale of 1:100 or 1:200, including:
- address of the property
- the title boundaries and dimensions (this information can be found on the copy of title on the relevant lot plan)
- details of the existing front fence to be removed (including the height, materials, and location of the pedestrian gate and driveway).
Proposed fence plan and elevation
North orientation and at a scale of 1:100 or 1:200, including:
- address of the property
- the title boundaries
- existing features of the site
- location of the proposed front fence, including details of any openings for gates or driveway
- specific details of the proposed colour, materials and finishes of the fence, including details of any spacing or openings (such as if battens are proposed).
Apply now
If you need a paper planning permit application form, including a VicSmart form, contact the planning department on 03 8290 3329.
Faster 10-day permit processing
You may qualify for a streamlined permit process called VicSmart. Learn more about VicSmart.
To apply, select ‘VicSmart’ when prompted in your online planning permit application.
Fences between two properties
Fencing under 2 metres high between two properties is generally a private matter between the property owners. City of Stonnington cannot help with resolving fencing matters between neighbours. We suggest speaking to your neighbour first to reach an agreement.
Learn more about fencing law in Victoria and how to resolve disputes with neighbours at Fencing in Victoria | Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria.