Fences and retaining walls in Rockhampton — do you need approval?
Rockhampton Regional Council's planning scheme — the Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme 2015 (Version 5, 2025-03-28) — 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 under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies.
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 (section 5.6) | A fence or retaining wall is accepted under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Low density residential zone — Fitzroy River accommodation precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 (section 5.6) | A fence or retaining wall is accepted under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Low density residential zone — Residential stables precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 (section 5.6) | A fence or retaining wall is accepted under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Low-medium density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 (section 5.6) | A fence or retaining wall is accepted under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| High density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 / 5.9 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Rural residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted (no planning approval needed) unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Township zone | No planning approval needed 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development with no planning application needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Emerging community zone | No planning approval needed 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is not made assessable by the planning scheme, so no planning development application is needed (a building approval may still be). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Community facilities zone | No planning approval needed 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is not made assessable by the planning scheme, so no planning development application is needed (a building approval may still be). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| District centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 / 5.9 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development unless an overlay applies, though 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 | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted (no planning approval needed) unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| High impact industry zone | No planning approval needed 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is not made assessable by the scheme, so no planning development application is needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Limited development (constrained land) zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted (no planning approval needed) unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Local centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 / 5.9 | A fence or retaining wall in the Local centre zone does not need a planning development application unless an overlay applies, 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 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is not made assessable by the scheme, so no planning development application is needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Major centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 / 5.9 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development unless an overlay applies, though 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 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is not made assessable by the scheme, so no planning development application is needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 / 5.9 | A fence or retaining wall in the Neighbourhood centre zone does not need a planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Open space zone | No planning approval needed 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is not made assessable by the scheme, so no planning development application is needed unless an overlay applies, 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 / 5.9 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development unless an overlay applies, 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 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted (no planning approval needed) unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Special industry zone | No planning approval needed 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is not made assessable by the planning scheme, so no planning development application is needed (a building approval may still be). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Special purpose zone | No planning approval needed 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is accepted development with no planning application needed unless an overlay applies, 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 / 5.9 | A fence or retaining wall in the Specialised centre zone does not need a planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval may still be required. | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
| Sport and recreation zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.6 / 5.9 | A fence or retaining wall in the Sport and recreation zone does not need a planning development application unless an overlay applies, 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 5.6 | A fence or retaining wall is not made assessable by the planning scheme, so no planning development application is needed (a building approval may still be). | Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m |
Overlays that change the answer
- Flood hazard overlay. Building work becomes accepted subject to requirements (must meet the Flood hazard overlay code, including minimum finished floor levels). (Table 5.9.8)
Worth knowing in Rockhampton
IMPORTANT: The scheme's building work table (section 5.6) is 'Not applicable' — the scheme does NOT itself make domestic building work (sheds, carports, pools, fences, extensions, demolition) assessable in the base case. Those projects are generally 'accepted' under the planning scheme (no planning development application), but a building approval under the Building Act 1975 is almost always still required and must be obtained separately. Overlays (especially Flood, Character, Heritage) can change this — see overlay_triggers. Granny flats: the QPP 'Dwelling house' definition includes a secondary dwelling, so a granny flat follows the Dwelling house row of each zone; in residential/township/rural/rural residential/emerging community zones a dwelling house is 'accepted' (or 'accepted subject to requirements' in Emerging community and Rural), but in centre, industry, open space, sport & recreation, community facilities, special purpose, limited development and environmental zones a dwelling house is not listed and falls to the 'any other use' row = impact assessable. Minimum lot sizes for subdivision are set in Table 9.3.5.3.2 of the Reconfiguring a lot code, which was not reproduced in the material provided — specific numeric minimums per zone could not be extracted, so min_lot_size_m2 is null for all zones. Known thresholds: Emerging community = 10 hectares for code assessment; Rural = the minimum nominated in the Reconfiguring a lot code. Many zones have precincts and sub-precincts; the scheme states that for a precinct/sub-precinct the relevant (parent) zone categories apply for reconfiguring and operational work, but material-change-of-use tables can differ by precinct (e.g. Low density residential Fitzroy River accommodation precinct allows some small-scale commercial uses). Tree clearing: the scheme only regulates vegetation clearing as operational work via overlays (Biodiversity, etc.); the general operational work table (5.7.1) mainly covers filling/excavation and access/services works — most vegetation clearing is accepted under the scheme but the State Vegetation Management Act 1999 rules are separate and may still apply. Home-based business is 'accepted subject to requirements' in residential, township, rural, rural residential, industry and emerging community zones (meet the relevant zone code) and 'accepted' in centre zones.
What else you'll need
- Building approval for fences over 2 m or retaining walls over 1 m
More about Rockhampton
- What can you build in Rockhampton? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Rockhampton Regional Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Rockhampton address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Parkhurst
- Development applications in Kawana
- Development applications in Park Avenue
- Development applications in Berserker
- Development applications in Frenchville
- Development applications in Gracemere
- Development applications in Koongal
- Development applications in Depot Hill
Other projects in Rockhampton
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Fence or wall in Queensland.
Read from the Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme 2015 (Version 5, 2025-03-28) 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.