Fence rules in Hobart
City of Hobart assesses these under the Tasmania rules below. Heritage, flood or bushfire mapping on your own lot can change what you need to apply for.
Low-risk work - no permit for a standard fence
Tasmania treats most fences as low-risk building work needing no permit: up to 2.1 m in timber or Colorbond, 1.2 m in masonry or concrete, and up to 3 m for chain link. Near the street the planning scheme also applies - solid fences are capped at 1.2 m within 4.5 m of the frontage, or 1.8 m if the part above 1.2 m is at least 30 per cent transparent.
Key rules at a glance
| Max height (front setback) | 1.2 m solid within 4.5 m of a frontage, or up to 1.8 m if openings above 1.2 m give uniform transparency of at least 30 per cent |
| Max height (side/rear) | 2.1 m as low-risk building work in materials other than masonry or concrete |
| Masonry limit | 1.2 m for a free-standing masonry or concrete wall as low-risk work; chain link is allowed to 3 m |
| Approval needed? | No building permit for low-risk fences; a planning permit if you exceed the frontage standards or a heritage code applies |
| Pool fence | Min 1.2 m, compliant with AS 1926.1 - pool barriers are permit work, not low-risk work |
| Dividing fence law | Boundary Fences Act 1908 |
| Who pays? | Neighbours contribute half each to erecting or repairing a sufficient boundary fence |
Heritage, flood and bushfire controls on your specific lot can remove the fast-track and require a full application, even when the general rules say you're fine.
How often this applies in Hobart
These are the overlays that can remove the fast-track, measured across every parcel in Hobart from the same data behind our zoning map. They describe the council, not your block, and they are counted separately — one parcel can carry more than one, so they cannot be added together.
| Overlay | Share of parcels | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage | 43.28% | 10,392 parcels flagged. 56.72% of the council has no heritage mapping, so we can't say for those parcels. |
| Flood | 7.99% | 1,919 parcels flagged. The rest are mapped and sit outside it. |
| Bushfire | 23.39% | 5,616 parcels flagged. The rest are mapped and sit outside it. |
The most common zone in Hobart is General Residential, covering 41.1% of its 24,011 parcels. What you can build is decided by your own lot's zone, not the council's most common one.
Measured from our mapped parcel data, snapshot taken 2026-11-08. Overlays are checked live for a specific address on the address tool.
Fences in Hobart
City of Hobart is the authority for Hobart in Greater Hobart. The statewide Tasmania rules above set the baseline; the council can apply extra local controls, and heritage, flood or bushfire overlays on your lot can change what's allowed.
Visit City of Hobart ↗ Full Tasmania rules →
See the Hobart zoning map →, showing every parcel in Hobart by zone, lot size and mapped constraints.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval for a fence in Hobart?
Often not. Tasmania allows a fence to proceed without a full development application when it meets the standards, and City of Hobart follows that framework. But local overlays — heritage, flood or bushfire — can remove the fast-track, so check your exact address before you rely on it.
Which council approves a fence in Hobart?
City of Hobart is the consent authority for Hobart (Greater Hobart). You can review local planning controls on the council website and lodge through your state planning portal.
How high can a fence be in Tasmania without a permit?
Up to 2.1 m for a timber or Colorbond fence as low-risk building work, and 1.2 m for a free-standing masonry or concrete wall. Within 4.5 m of the street a solid fence is capped at 1.2 m, or 1.8 m if it is at least 30 per cent transparent above 1.2 m.
Sources
- Boundary Fences Act 1908 - Tasmanian Legislation ↗
- Boundary fences - Tasmania Legal Aid ↗
- Director's Determination - Categories of Building and Demolition Work (Building Standards Tasmania) ↗
- Tasmanian Planning Scheme - State Planning Provisions ↗
Related building rules
General guidance only. Not professional planning advice. Local requirements in Hobart can differ from the statewide summary and change over time; always confirm with City of Hobart before starting work. Last reviewed: July 2026.
Talk to a town planner in Hobart
This page covers the general rules. A qualified town planner can tell you what applies to your block, including the zone, overlays and approval path, before you spend money on drawings.
- Qualified, practising town planners
- Advice specific to your property
- Free, with no obligation