Fences and Retaining Walls

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Depending on your property circumstances, a fence and/or retaining wall can be located:

  • on a common boundary between two properties (with consent of both owners), OR
  • within your property boundary, OR
  • as required by any approval that may have been obtained – such as units 

Fences

Can I build a fence without Council approval?

Yes:

  • If your fence is not a pool fence,
  • And is under 2m in height.

Please note that a site survey of the property by a professional surveyor may be required to make sure the fence is on the boundary if there are no visible survey pegs. This will affect encroachment issues in the future.

Does my fence need to be a certain style?

Council does not regulate the style of fencing on residential properties. However, it is recommended that fencing styles are designed and constructed to reflect your neighbourhood’s character. Fence height may also be specified by Council when it is a condition of an approval for a larger development such as for units, duplexes, commercial buildings or certain subdivisions/housing estates.

Checklist - Fences

This checklist helps you manage the steps to obtain an approval to construct a retaining wall.

Click on the + symbol or the questions below to expand and display each item.

Who will need to be involved?

What do I need to prepare?

  • Completed DA Application Form 2
  • Site Plan that has been drawn to scale and with dimensions (measurements) that shows the details of the fence location, size and materials.
  • Cross Section through the proposed fence with dimensions (measurements).
  • Assessment fee as per Council’s Fees and charges
  • Distances from existing structures
  • Location of easements and existing infrastructure on site.

Submit your application:

Applications can be submitted and paid for using Council’s Online Development Application Portal.

Get started:

Engage a registered builder or contractor to build the fence, if needed, otherwise build the fence in accordance with the approval conditions.

For more information please contact Council on (07) 4970 0700 or info@gladstone.qld.gov.au.

Retaining Walls

Are there any special requirements for retaining walls?

Retaining walls require Council approval and a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland sign off. Guidelines and processes are dependent on individual circumstances. Consideration should be given to existing overland drainage patterns to ensure non worsening to adjoining properties.

Can I build a retaining wall without an approval?

You do not need an approval if the wall meets all 3 of the below requirements:

  • The retaining wall is not located within 1.5 metres of a building or another retaining wall.
  • The height of the retaining wall measured from the adjacent natural ground level is less than one metre.
  • The retaining wall has no surcharge loading (for example, a driveway above the retaining wall will impose a surcharge loading on the retaining wall).

Checklist - Retaining Walls

This checklist helps you manage the steps to obtain an approval to construct a retaining wall.

Click on the + symbol or the questions below to expand and display each item.

Who will need to be involved?

Do I need a retaining wall?

If you are proposing a retaining wall you will need to consult with an engineer to prepare a plan showing the location of the wall on your property. If a surcharge loading is imposed on the wall, the height of the wall is one (1) metre or greater, or the wall is located within 1.5 metres of a building or another retaining wall, a building approval will be required.

For all retaining walls it is recommended that an appropriate distance is maintained between the property boundary and the closest part of the retaining wall. Please also ensure that the wall is not within two (2) metres of underground services like sewer mains, stormwater pipes or water supply mains.

What do I need to prepare?

  • Engage a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) to select, design and certify the most suitable type of retaining wall for the site.
  • Advise the RPEQ if you are planning another structure that will be near the wall (for example, driveway or building loads adjacent to wall).
  • Obtain a copy of the engineer-designed section for the wall signed and certified by the RPEQ
  • Compliance Certicate for Building Design or Specification.
  • Completed DA Application Form 2.
  • Site Plan that has been drawn to scale and with dimensions (measurements) that shows the details of the retaining walls’ location, size, design and distance from existing structures.
  • If applicable, the site plan must also show the location of any easements and infrastructure on the site.
  • Cross section of the driveway crossing (if the crossing is on steep land you may be asked to provide additional sections).
  • Assessment fee as per Council’s Fees and charges.

Contact Council on (07) 4970 0700 orinfo@gladstone.qld.gov.aufor further assistance.

To see other Fact Sheets, hover over the image above and click on an aspect (or symbol such as a fence, house etc). This will display another Fact Sheet for you on that subject.

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