Fences and retaining walls in Redland — do you need approval?
Redland City Council's planning scheme — the Redland City Plan 2018 — 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 low density residential zone
No planning approval needed. A fence or retaining wall is accepted development needing no planning development application, unless it is in precincts LDR1-LDR5 where it is assessed against the zone code.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development needing no planning development application, unless it is in precincts LDR1-LDR5 where it is assessed against the zone code. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 mAssessed against: Low density residential zone code |
| Low-medium density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development in this zone and needs no planning development application. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Medium density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development in this zone and needs no planning development application. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Character residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development in this zone and needs no planning development application. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Emerging community zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work here under the planning scheme, though a building approval under the Building Act is still required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Tourist accommodation zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted unless an overlay applies, but a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Community facilities zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work here under the planning scheme, though a building approval under the Building Act is still required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Conservation zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development needing no planning application in this zone (though a building approval may still be required), unless an overlay applies. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| District centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted unless an overlay applies, but a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Environmental management zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development needing no planning application in this zone (though a building approval may still be required), unless an overlay applies. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Local centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is any other building work not listed, so it is accepted and needs no planning development application (though a building approval may still be required). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Low impact industry zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development needing no planning application in this zone (though a building approval may still be required), unless an overlay applies. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Major centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted unless an overlay applies, but a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Medium impact industry zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development needing no planning application in this zone (though a building approval may still be required), unless an overlay applies. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Mixed use zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work here under the planning scheme, though a building approval under the Building Act is still required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is any other building work not listed, so it is accepted and needs no planning development application (though a building approval may still be required). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Principal centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted unless an overlay applies, but a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Recreation and open space zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is any other building work not listed, so it is accepted and needs no planning development application (though a building approval may still be required). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Rural zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall on a rural property is accepted development needing no planning development application, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Specialised centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is any other building work not listed, so it is accepted and needs no planning development application (though a building approval may still be required). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6.1 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted building work here under the planning scheme, though a building approval under the Building Act is still required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
Overlays that change the answer
- Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay. On land mapped as erosion prone, material change of use or building work for a dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling), dual occupancy or community residence becomes code assessable and must be assessed against the Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay code. (5.9.1 Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay)
- Flood and storm tide hazard overlay. On land mapped as drainage constrained, material change of use or building work for a dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) or community residence becomes code assessable and must be assessed against the Flood and storm tide hazard overlay code (may particularly affect Character residential and Environmental management zones on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands). (5.9.1 Flood and storm tide hazard overlay)
- Heritage overlay. Operational work involving a change to landscaping, fencing or natural features of land referred to in the citation for a local heritage place becomes code assessable against the Heritage overlay code. (5.9.1 Heritage overlay)
Worth knowing in Redland
The tables of assessment do not state numeric minimum lot sizes for reconfiguring a lot; the numeric minimums live in the Reconfiguring a lot code and individual zone codes (not reproduced here). Reconfiguring a lot is impact assessable in the Conservation, Environmental management, Character residential, Tourist accommodation and Rural zones, and in the Emerging community zone where any lot under 10ha is created; it is otherwise code assessable. Building work for a dwelling house (shed, pool, fence, extension, demolition) is generally accepted development under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies (see overlay_triggers) — but a building approval under the Building Act 1975 is still required, and dwelling-house building work in the Low density residential zone precincts LDR1–LDR5 (and dual occupancy/associated building work in LDR5) is accepted subject to requirements against the zone code. Secondary dwellings (granny flats) are treated as part of a 'dwelling house' under the QPP; a dwelling house containing a secondary dwelling still counts as one dwelling for assessment triggers in rural/emerging/environmental management/conservation zones. Where premises are in more than one zone or overlay, the highest category applies. The Transport noise corridor overlay is for information only (building work assessed under QDC Part 4.4). State Vegetation Management Act and Planning Regulation clearing exemptions operate separately from this scheme. There are no local plans in this scheme. Precinct variations (LDR1–5, MDR1–9, CF1–9) can change categories within a zone and should be checked against the relevant zone map.
What else you'll need
- Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m
More about Redland
- What can you build in Redland? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Redland City Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Redland address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Cleveland
- Development applications in Redland Bay
- Development applications in Birkdale
- Development applications in Capalaba
- Development applications in Wellington Point
- Development applications in Alexandra Hills
- Development applications in Thornlands
- Development applications in Victoria Point
Other projects in Redland
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Fence or wall in Queensland.
Read from the Redland City Plan 2018 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.