Find a trusted fencer in Canberra

Front fences work differently in Canberra

Canberra was planned as a garden city, and it shows in the front yards. In most suburbs you can’t simply build a fence along the street boundary. Anything forward of the house generally falls under the planning rules, and a tall front fence is often not allowed, which is why hedges and low garden edges are such a common look here. Some newer estates have their own front fence rules set when the suburb was designed. Before you price a front fence, ask your fencer what applies to your block, or check with the ACT planning authority.

Side and back fences are a different story. Most fences up to 1.8 metres can go in without building approval, and Colorbond is the usual choice in the newer suburbs of Gungahlin and the Molonglo Valley. In older areas, plenty of timber paling fences are reaching the end of their life.

Neighbours, bushland and pools

Boundary fences between neighbours are covered by the Common Boundaries Act 1981. In short, you share the cost of a basic fence equally, and whoever wants a fancier finish pays the extra. An itemised written quote makes that conversation easier, and if it stalls, ACAT can make a decision.

Blocks on the edge of Canberra often back onto nature reserves or grassland. Kangaroos and rabbits wander in from the reserves, and these are also the areas the ACT maps as bushfire prone. Steel fencing doesn’t burn, so ask your fencer about it, especially for the stretch closest to the house.

Pool fences are their own job. Any fence that forms part of a pool enclosure has to be inspected and certified by a building certifier in the ACT, and must meet AS 1926.1, the Australian Standard for pool barriers.

Checks before your fencer starts

Fencing isn’t licensed in the ACT, so check the business on ABN Lookup, confirm it carries public liability insurance, and make sure the fencer knows when building approval is needed. If the old fence is fibro and dates from before about 1990, assume it may contain asbestos and have a WorkSafe ACT licensed removalist take it down. The ACT licence checks page links to that register and the rest.

Per-metre fencing prices in Canberra

Fencers here usually price near the top of the national scale, on a par with Sydney. Colorbond runs roughly $120 to $200 per metre, hardwood $150 to $250 per metre, and a single pedestrian gate $400 to $900 supplied and hung. Even a small repair can attract a minimum charge, typically $500 to $900. Our fencing price guide has more, and every figure there is a guide, not a quote.

One fencer, one quote

There’s no directory here and no selling your details to a string of fencing companies. Tell us what you need fenced and where, and we’ll match you with one Canberra fencer whose ABN, insurance and reviews have already been checked. Get a free quote, see fencers in other cities, or check out more Canberra trades.