A fence has to meet the relevant Australian Standards and the fencing law of the state it is built in. Some of the framework is national, most notably the pool safety barrier standard, and the rest, particularly height limits and how shared fences are handled, is set state by state and then refined by local councils. Here is the lay of the land, so you know what to check before a fence goes up.
How high can a fence be? A state-by-state guide
Height limits differ across Australia, and councils add their own controls on top. The figures below are indicative starting points, not the final word, so confirm the rules for your block with your council before building. Each state's shared-fence law is named and linked to its legislation register.
| State / territory | Indicative height guide | Governing legislation |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Front around 1.2 m, side or rear up to 1.8 m; permit above | Dividing Fences Act 1991 |
| VIC | Permit generally needed above 2 m | Fences Act 1968 |
| QLD | A "sufficient" dividing fence is 0.5 m to 1.8 m | Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011 |
| SA | Permit generally above 2.1 m; masonry limited to about 1 m | Fences Act 1975 |
| WA | Generally 1.2 m to 1.8 m, by local rules | Dividing Fences Act 1961 |
| TAS | Planning permit generally if over 1.2 m | Boundary Fences Act 1908 |
| ACT | "Basic urban" fence around 1.5 m | Common Boundaries Act 1981 |
| NT | Permit generally for fences over 1 m in many areas | NT Government fencing guidance |
The common thread is that a shared boundary fence is treated as a joint responsibility between neighbours, and a taller or non-standard fence usually needs council approval. Chainwire and welded mesh sit comfortably inside most residential limits and are a straightforward choice for commercial and industrial boundaries where height and security matter more than a decorative look.
The AS 1926.1 pool safety barrier standard
The one area of fencing that is genuinely national is pool safety. Australian Standard AS 1926.1 covers swimming pool safety barriers, and it defines a swimming pool as any structure holding water more than 300 mm deep and used for swimming, paddling or wading, which is why it catches inflatable and portable pools too.
Across the standard, a compliant pool barrier:
- Is at least 1.2 m high all the way around.
- Keeps any gap under the barrier to no more than 100 mm, and vertical gaps under 100 mm.
- Maintains a non-climbable zone clear of anything a child could use to climb, roughly 900 mm outside the barrier.
- Uses a gate that opens away from the pool and is self-closing and self-latching, with the latch release out of a small child's reach or shielded.
The exact edition of AS 1926.1 that applies depends on when the pool was built or last altered, and each state administers pool safety through its own laws on top of the standard. For the full NSW picture, including the pool register and the compliance certificate needed to sell or lease, see our guide to NSW pool fencing regulations. The standard itself is published by Standards Australia.
Different fences, different standards
Pool barriers are the best-known example, but they are not the only fence with its own rules. Bushfire-prone areas call for non-combustible materials and clearances, security and correctional work has its own specifications, and rural boundaries have their own idea of a "sufficient" stock fence. The material and build that is right for a job is partly a compliance question, not just a preference, which is why it is worth confirming the applicable standard before you commit to a design.
The takeaway
Two questions decide which rules apply to your fence: which state you are in, and what the fence is for. Height limits and shared-fence law are state and council matters, while pool safety runs to the national AS 1926.1 standard. Check both before you build, and confirm the current figures with your council or state legislation, because these rules are updated over time.