Fences Policy │Amendment to Local Planning Policy 2.8

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Consultation has concluded


We’re proposing to change our local planning policy to clarify the City’s fencing requirements and expand the range of fences that do not require planning approval.


Fences Policy approved

The proposed changes to LPP 2.8 Fences Policy were approved by Council on 13 December 2017. You can read the minutes here.



Proposed changes to the fences policy were advertised for public comment from 20 October to 13 November 2017. No submissions were received during this time. We've made some minor amendments for clarification since advertising and the report to council recommends that the changes be adopted. The report is available on the council agendas and minutes page.

Planning Committee will consider this recommendation when it meets on Wednesday 6 December at 6.00 pm in council chambers.

The Planning Committee meeting is open to the public. Time is set aside at the beginning of the meeting for anyone to address the committee, or ask a question. To register to speak, please contact us in advance or put your name down before the meeting starts outside the chamber between 5.30 pm and 5.50 pm. If you would like to simply observe the meeting, there is no need to register.

Council chambers are located at Town Hall Centre, 8 William Street, Fremantle. To get there; take the white spiral stairs near the children’s playground. If you require disability access, please contact us before 5.00 pm on the day of the meeting.


Comment period closed

The consultation period on the changes we're proposing to the fences policy is now complete. The policy is expected to be presented to council in December 2017 for endorsement.

What’s proposed?

The proposed changes can be divided into three categories:

  • development permitted without planning approval
  • clarifications on requirements
  • administrative fixes.


Development permitted without planning approval

Broadly, the policy proposes to allow the following fences to be constructed without planning approval provided they comply with the Residential Design Codes (building approval may still be required ):

  • Side/rear boundary fences and pool fences up to 1.8 m high on or abutting heritage listed properties as long as such fences are freestanding and not within the primary or secondary street setback areas.
  • Side/rear boundary fences and pool fences up to 1.8 m high on properties within Heritage Areas as long as such fences are not within the primary street.
  • Secondary street fences up to 1.8 m high on all other residential properties.

The above would not apply to any property on the State Heritage Register or affected by a state heritage agreement, such as those properties within the West End Conservation Area. Such fences would still require planning approval. The changes would also not exempt fences from requiring a building permit (if applicable) as building permits are covered by separate legislation.

Clarifications on requirements

These sets of changes clarify existing requirements and make minor changes including eliminating neighbour consultation for side and rear fences where only industrial lots are affected, providing guidelines for fences abutting vehicle access points on non-residential properties, and providing a diagram illustrating the definition of ‘truncation’.

Administrative fixes

The proposed administrative fixes have no impact on the policy itself and are only necessary to correctly reference recent legislation and planning scheme changes.

The above changes have been crossed out or underlined/highlighted in the draft Local Planning Policy 2.8 (include link).

For more detailed explanation of amendments see the report presented to the 27 September 2017 Council meeting or call Nathan Blumenthal on 9432 9999.





We’re proposing to change our local planning policy to clarify the City’s fencing requirements and expand the range of fences that do not require planning approval.


Fences Policy approved

The proposed changes to LPP 2.8 Fences Policy were approved by Council on 13 December 2017. You can read the minutes here.



Proposed changes to the fences policy were advertised for public comment from 20 October to 13 November 2017. No submissions were received during this time. We've made some minor amendments for clarification since advertising and the report to council recommends that the changes be adopted. The report is available on the council agendas and minutes page.

Planning Committee will consider this recommendation when it meets on Wednesday 6 December at 6.00 pm in council chambers.

The Planning Committee meeting is open to the public. Time is set aside at the beginning of the meeting for anyone to address the committee, or ask a question. To register to speak, please contact us in advance or put your name down before the meeting starts outside the chamber between 5.30 pm and 5.50 pm. If you would like to simply observe the meeting, there is no need to register.

Council chambers are located at Town Hall Centre, 8 William Street, Fremantle. To get there; take the white spiral stairs near the children’s playground. If you require disability access, please contact us before 5.00 pm on the day of the meeting.


Comment period closed

The consultation period on the changes we're proposing to the fences policy is now complete. The policy is expected to be presented to council in December 2017 for endorsement.

What’s proposed?

The proposed changes can be divided into three categories:

  • development permitted without planning approval
  • clarifications on requirements
  • administrative fixes.


Development permitted without planning approval

Broadly, the policy proposes to allow the following fences to be constructed without planning approval provided they comply with the Residential Design Codes (building approval may still be required ):

  • Side/rear boundary fences and pool fences up to 1.8 m high on or abutting heritage listed properties as long as such fences are freestanding and not within the primary or secondary street setback areas.
  • Side/rear boundary fences and pool fences up to 1.8 m high on properties within Heritage Areas as long as such fences are not within the primary street.
  • Secondary street fences up to 1.8 m high on all other residential properties.

The above would not apply to any property on the State Heritage Register or affected by a state heritage agreement, such as those properties within the West End Conservation Area. Such fences would still require planning approval. The changes would also not exempt fences from requiring a building permit (if applicable) as building permits are covered by separate legislation.

Clarifications on requirements

These sets of changes clarify existing requirements and make minor changes including eliminating neighbour consultation for side and rear fences where only industrial lots are affected, providing guidelines for fences abutting vehicle access points on non-residential properties, and providing a diagram illustrating the definition of ‘truncation’.

Administrative fixes

The proposed administrative fixes have no impact on the policy itself and are only necessary to correctly reference recent legislation and planning scheme changes.

The above changes have been crossed out or underlined/highlighted in the draft Local Planning Policy 2.8 (include link).

For more detailed explanation of amendments see the report presented to the 27 September 2017 Council meeting or call Nathan Blumenthal on 9432 9999.