Fences and retaining walls in Banana — do you need approval?
Banana Shire Council's planning scheme — the Banana Shire Planning Scheme 2021 — decides whether a fence or retaining wall needs a development application, and the answer depends on the zone your property is in. Below is what its table of assessment says for each zone; or check your own address.
In a general residential zone code
No planning approval needed. A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work, though a building approval may still be needed for certain heights.
I don't know my zone — choose my council instead
The zone is on your rates notice, or a Landbrief site report will find it for you.
Zone by zone
Building work (a fence or retaining wall). Residential zones first.
| Zone | What the table says | Conditions | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Residential Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work, though a building approval may still be needed for certain heights. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Rural Residential Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work, though a building approval may still be needed for certain heights. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Township Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work in the Township Zone (a building permit may still be needed for larger walls), unless it affects a local heritage place. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Centre Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work needing no planning approval (a building approval may still be required). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Community Facilities Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work needing no planning approval (a building approval may still be required). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Environmental Management and Conservation Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work needing no planning approval (a building approval may still be required). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Industry Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work needing no planning approval (a building approval may still be required). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Mixed Use Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work, though a building approval may still be needed for certain heights. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Recreation and Open Space Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work, though a building approval may still be needed for certain heights. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Rural Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work in the Rural Zone (a building permit may still be needed for larger walls), unless it affects a local heritage place. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Special Industry Zone Code | No planning approval needed Table 4.5.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work in the Special Industry Zone (a building permit may still be needed for larger walls), unless it affects a local heritage place. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
Overlays that change the answer
- Local heritage place. Building work for alteration, extension, partial demolition or a new building on a local heritage place is code assessable (Local Heritage Place Code – Table 6.3.10). Minor building work on a heritage place is accepted subject to requirements, or code assessable where not accepted. Building work (other than minor) adjoining a heritage place is code assessable. Any permanent alteration to the appearance of a heritage place is code assessable, and operational work (including clearing) and reconfiguring a lot on a heritage place site is code assessable. (Tables 4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.3.1, 4.5.1)
Worth knowing in Banana
Minimum lot sizes are not listed in the Tables of Assessment — they are in Table 6.3.6 of the Reconfiguring a Lot Code, which was not provided. For every zone, subdividing is code assessable where resulting lots meet the minimum lot areas of Table 6.3.6, and impact assessable where any lot does not comply (Table 4.3.1). Amalgamation of lots and creation of an access easement to one lot are accepted/ADSR in all zones. MUIRS ROAD PRECINCT (Rural Zone): the accepted and accepted-subject-to-requirements MCU pathways in Table 4.1.1, the accepted/ADSR earthworks and minor-electricity operational-work pathways, and some other concessions do NOT apply in this precinct; building work in the Muirs Road Precinct not associated with a material change of use is code assessable against the Rural Zone Code. COMMUNITY FACILITIES ZONE Precinct 6: operational work for a municipal waste facility is accepted. Zone-specific material change of use categories (granny_flat, dual_occupancy, home_business, townhouses, shop_office, etc.) are set by the individual zone codes in Part 5, which were not supplied here — rules for those uses will rely on each zone code's table of assessment and default/'any other use' rows. A building approval under the Building Act may still be required even where planning assessment is 'accepted'.
What else you'll need
- Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m
More about Banana
- What can you build in Banana? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Banana Shire Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Banana address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
Other projects in Banana
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Fence or wall in Queensland.
Read from the Banana Shire Planning Scheme 2021 tables of assessment. General information, not advice. The council's planning scheme and the Planning Act 2016 decide — confirm with the council or a town planner before you build.