Fences rules in Perth
Building a fence in Perth? City of Perth applies the Western Australia planning framework. Here's what that means locally — plus the overlays worth checking on your specific block.
Depends on your local government's fencing local law
WA is the one state where the rules are genuinely local: each local government makes a fencing local law that defines a 'sufficient fence' and sets heights and materials. As a general baseline, a non-masonry fence up to 1.8 m outside cyclonic wind regions does not need a building permit, and street-facing fences are usually solid to 1.2 m with visually permeable infill above.
Key rules at a glance
| Max height (front setback) | Typically solid to 1.2 m with visually permeable infill above, up to about 1.8 m, under the R-Codes deemed-to-comply provisions - note a solid masonry element over 0.75 m triggers a building permit |
| Max height (side/rear) | Set by the local fencing local law - commonly a minimum of 1.8 m and a maximum of about 2.4 m for a dividing fence |
| Building permit | Required unless exempt. Where no local fencing law applies, Building Regulations 2012 Schedule 4 exempts a fence only up to 0.75 m if masonry, or 1.8 m if built of another material, and not in cyclonic wind regions C or D - so a solid masonry front fence over 0.75 m needs a building permit |
| Approval needed? | Check your local government's fencing local law first; planning approval is needed if a street fence fails the R-Codes deemed-to-comply test |
| Pool fence | Min 1.2 m, compliant with AS 1926.1; local governments must inspect pool barriers at least every four years |
| Dividing fence law | Dividing Fences Act 1961 |
| Who pays? | Your share is half the cost of a 'sufficient fence' as prescribed by the local government's fencing local law - upgrades above that standard are at your own cost |
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 Perth
These are the overlays that can remove the fast-track, measured across every parcel in Perth 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 | Not mapped | No heritage mapping is published for Perth, so it cannot be ruled out here. That is not the same as the land being clear. |
| Flood | Not mapped | No flood mapping is published for Perth, so it cannot be ruled out here. That is not the same as the land being clear. |
| Bushfire | 3.48% | 252 parcels flagged. The rest are mapped and sit outside it. |
The most common zone in Perth is City centre, covering 33.0% of its 7,232 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 2026-09-06. Overlays are checked live for a specific address on the address tool.
Fences in Perth
City of Perth is the authority for Perth in Perth. The statewide Western Australia 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 Perth ↗ Full Western Australia rules →
See the Perth zoning map → — every parcel in Perth by zone, lot size and mapped constraints.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval for a fence in Perth?
Usually yes. In Western Australia, a fence generally needs an application, and City of Perth is the authority that assesses it. See the full state rules for the pathway and what's required.
Which council approves a fence in Perth?
City of Perth is the consent authority for Perth (Perth). You can review local planning controls on the council website and lodge through your state planning portal.
How high can a fence be in WA?
There is no single statewide figure. Dividing fences are commonly 1.8 m and street fences are usually solid to 1.2 m with permeable infill above; the binding number comes from your local government's fencing local law and the R-Codes.
Sources
- Dividing fences - Government of Western Australia ↗
- Dividing Fences Act 1961 - WA Legislation ↗
- Residential Design Codes - WA Government ↗
Related building rules
General guidance only — not professional planning advice. Local requirements in Perth can differ from the statewide summary and change over time; always confirm with City of Perth before starting work. Last reviewed: July 2026.
Talk to a town planner in Perth
This page covers the general rules. A qualified town planner can tell you what applies to your actual block — the zone, the overlays and the approval path — before you spend money on drawings.
- Qualified, practising town planners
- Advice on your property, not a generic rule
- No cost, no obligation