Professional Fence Contractors in Canberra & ACT

In Canberra, there’s actually no legal requirement about which way the fence faces, but most contractors here follow the unwritten rule of good side out. I always recommend alternating panels if you’re using timber palings – gives both properties a fair go and helps with those strong westerlies we get through Tuggeranong Valley. For Colorbond, both sides look identical anyway, which is why it’s become the go-to choice in newer suburbs like Gungahlin. If you want the good side facing in, just have that conversation upfront – most Canberra neighbors are pretty reasonable about it.

You absolutely can build a second fence entirely on your property in Canberra, usually set back 100-150mm from the boundary. I see this a lot in inner suburbs like Griffith where people want different aesthetics or extra height for privacy. Just remember you’re paying for the whole thing yourself, and you’ll need to maintain that narrow gap between fences – it becomes a nightmare catching area for leaves and rubbish. Plus, if you go over 1.8 meters, you’ll still need council approval regardless of it being entirely on your property.

On a shared boundary fence, your neighbor technically has usage rights, but adding trellis changes the fence’s wind load – critical in wind-prone areas like those near Black Mountain. I always tell clients in heritage suburbs like Reid or Forrest that any additions might need heritage approval anyway, so it forces the conversation. The weight of climbing plants plus Canberra’s occasional hail can damage fence structures not designed for extra load. Best bet is agreeing on a solution that works for both parties – maybe split the cost of a fence designed to handle trellis from the start.

Temporarily resting something light against a shared fence usually isn’t an issue, but permanent storage is different – I’ve seen fence lines in Belconnen pushed over by years of firewood stacking. The real problem in Canberra is moisture retention; anything leaning against timber fences creates perfect rot conditions, especially on the cold south sides where things never properly dry out. Colorbond handles it better but can still get surface damage from constant contact. If you need storage against the fence line, install your own support structure – saves arguments and fence repairs.

Adding height to an existing fence in the ACT usually triggers those same council regulations as building a new fence – anything over 1.8m needs approval. I get asked this constantly by people in medium-density areas like Kingston Foreshore or new Molonglo Valley developments where houses are practically on top of each other. Lattice extensions or screening panels can work, but they need to handle our wind loads and not exceed height limits. For shared fences, you’ll need neighbor agreement too – trying to add privacy screening unilaterally usually ends up at ACAT.

Attaching anything electrical to a shared fence needs neighbor consent – full stop – plus you’re creating potential liability issues if water gets into the wiring during our summer storms. I’ve seen too many DIY lighting jobs in suburbs like Braddon cause fence fires or electrocution risks. Better option is installing your own posts for lighting or using solar spike lights along the fence line that don’t require attachment. If you must attach lights to a shared fence, get written agreement and use a licensed electrician – particularly important with Canberra’s temperature extremes affecting electrical components.