Fencing MelbourneBay 6 of 6
Front fences and the planning scheme
In Victoria’s planning provisions, a new or extended front fence within 3 metres of a street meets the front fence standard if it is no higher than the maximum in the zone’s schedule or, where the schedule sets none, 2 metres on streets in a Transport Zone 2 and 1.5 metres on other streets. Under the two General Residential Zone provisions this guide read, clauses 32.08-5 and 32.08-7, a planning permit is required for a front fence within 3 metres of a street that exceeds that height, where the fence goes with one dwelling on a lot under 300 square metres, or with two or more dwellings on a lot or a residential building.
General information, not planning advice. Read on 9 October 2026 from the Victoria Planning Provisions’ own clause documents: clauses 54.02-7, 55.02-8, 32.08-5 and 32.08-7 as amended by VC315 (dated 24 September 2026), and clause 59.03 as dated 31 July 2018. The government’s fencing page notes that different council areas may have different rules and regulations.
Two different questions
A fence between neighbours and a fence on the street are answered in different places. For dividing fences, the government’s fencing page says: “The law in Victoria doesn’t say how tall a fence should be or what it should be made from.” Front fences within 3 metres of a street are dealt with in the planning provisions this guide reads.
A building permit is a separate system again. The Building and Plumbing Commission says most fences need one and that some are exempt; its landscaping page gives examples.
The standard and its height table
Clause 54.02-7 states its purpose in one line: “To encourage front fence design that responds to the existing or preferred neighbourhood character.” Its Standard A2-7 reads, in full:
“Either the development: does not include a new, or an extension to an existing, front fence within three metres of a street; or includes a new, or extension to an existing, front fence within 3 metres of a street if the height of the fence does not exceed: – The maximum height specified in a schedule to the zone, or – If no maximum height is specified in a schedule to the zone, the maximum height specified in Table A2-7.”
| Street | Height limit |
|---|---|
| Streets in a Transport Zone 2 | 2 metres |
| Other streets | 1.5 metres |
Clause 54.02-7 adds: “This standard does not apply to a small second dwelling.”
Clause 55.02-8 carries the same objective, and its Standard B2-8 uses the same words, pointing to Table B2-8, which sets the same two heights: 2 metres on streets in a Transport Zone 2 and 1.5 metres on other streets. Clause 55.02-8 has no sentence about a small second dwelling.
What the council weighs
Both clauses give the same five decision guidelines, word for word:
“Before deciding on an application, the responsible authority must consider:”
- “Any relevant neighbourhood character objective, policy or statement set out in this scheme.”
- “The design response.”
- “The setback, height and appearance of front fences on adjacent properties.”
- “The extent to which slope and retaining walls reduce the effective height of the front fence.”
- “Whether the fence is needed to minimise noise intrusion.”
When a front fence needs a planning permit
The two zone provisions read for this guide each name the case in which a front fence needs a permit. Both conditions in a row must be met.
| Clause | Goes with | A permit is required if the fence exceeds |
|---|---|---|
| 32.08-5 | one dwelling on a lot less than 300 square metres | the maximum height specified in clause 54.02-7 |
| 32.08-7 | two or more dwellings on a lot, or a residential building | the maximum height specified in clause 55.02-8 |
This guide has read only the General Residential Zone. It has not read the planning scheme’s other zones or its overlays, and makes no claim about them.
Applications already lodged when VC315 began are treated differently: each clause says the version of clause 54 or clause 55 in force immediately before VC315 commenced continues to apply to a planning permit application lodged before that date, and to some amendments of permits whose original application was lodged before then.
The VicSmart route
Both zone provisions list a front fence as a class of VicSmart application, subject to clause 71.06: constructing or extending a front fence within 3 metres of a street, where the fence goes with one dwelling on a lot less than 300 square metres (32.08-5), or with two or more dwellings on a lot or a residential building (32.08-7). That class must be assessed against clause 59.03.
What the application includes
Clause 59.03-1, word for word:
“An application must be accompanied by the following information as appropriate:”
- “A copy of the title for the subject land and a copy of any registered restrictive covenant.”
- “A plan drawn to scale and fully dimensioned showing:”
- “The location, shape and size of the site.”
- “The location, length, height and design of the proposed fence including details of materials.”
- “The location, height and design of any existing front fence on adjoining and nearby properties including details of materials.”
- “A photograph of the site and adjoining and nearby properties along the street frontage.”
- “The reason for the proposed height.”
How it is assessed
Clause 59.03-2, word for word:
“In assessing an application the responsible authority must consider as appropriate:”
- “Whether the setback, height and design of the proposed fence are:”
- “Appropriate to the neighbourhood character and the site.”
- “Consistent with any relevant neighbourhood character objective or policy set out in the scheme.”
- “Appropriate with the setback, height and appearance of front fences on adjoining and nearby properties.”
- “Complement the design of the dwelling.”
- “The extent to which slope and retaining walls reduce the effective height of the proposed fence.”
- “Whether the proposed fence is needed to minimise noise intrusion.”
- “The reason for the proposed height.”
In short
Within 3 metres of a street, the front fence standard’s height is the zone schedule’s maximum, or if the schedule sets none, 2 metres on streets in a Transport Zone 2 and 1.5 metres on other streets. In clauses 32.08-5 and 32.08-7, going over that height is what triggers a planning permit, for a lot under 300 square metres with one dwelling, or for two or more dwellings or a residential building, and the application can take the VicSmart route under clause 59.03. For the fence between neighbours, start with Bay 1, who the Fences Act covers, and Bay 3, fencing orders.