Yes, you can put a privacy screen on top of a fence in Queensland, but the total height is what counts. If the fence, the screen and any retaining wall underneath come to more than 2 metres above natural ground level, you need building approval. Under 2 metres, approval is generally not required. If it is a shared boundary fence, get your neighbour’s agreement first.
Most people asking this have a 1.8 metre fence and a neighbour’s deck or window looking straight over it. Here is what the rules mean for that situation and the options that solve it.
How the 2 metre rule works
Queensland councils treat a fence and anything attached to it as one structure. Brisbane City Council puts it plainly: fence height includes a combination of screens, fences and retaining walls.
That catches people in two ways.
- A screen on an existing fence. A 1.8 metre fence with a 600 mm screen on top is 2.4 metres. That needs building approval.
- A fence on a retaining wall. A 1.8 metre fence sitting on a 500 mm retaining wall is already 2.3 metres from natural ground on the low side, before you add anything.
Height is measured from natural ground level, not from your paving or garden bed. On a sloping block the same fence can be under 2 metres at one end and over at the other.
What if I need to go higher than 2 metres?
You can, with approval. A private building certifier assesses the structure, and for fences over 2 metres the certifier may need a response from council as well. This is a normal process and is worth doing properly. In one Queensland tribunal case, owners who added aluminium louvre panels on top of a block boundary fence for privacy had to apply for approval after the panels were already up, and the approval came with height conditions.
Extra rules to check before you build:
- Corner blocks have lower height limits near the intersection so drivers can see.
- Waterfront and canal blocks can have lower height limits on the part of the fence inside the setback from the water.
- Pool fences are regulated separately. Do not attach anything to a pool barrier without advice.
- Estates and body corporates often have covenants that are stricter than council rules.
Rules can differ between councils, so confirm with your local council or a private certifier before ordering anything over 2 metres. If you are also planning a gate, the approval rules are different again, and we cover them in our guide to council approval for a driveway gate in Queensland.
Do I need my neighbour’s permission?
If the fence sits on the common boundary, it is a dividing fence and is generally owned by both neighbours. Dividing fences in Queensland come under the Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011. Talk to your neighbour before fixing anything to a shared fence and get the agreement in writing. Disputes go to QCAT, and they are far more expensive than a conversation.
If your neighbour says no, you still have an option: build the screen inside your own boundary.
Will my fence hold a screen?
This is the practical problem nobody mentions. A screen adds height, and height adds wind load. Standard fence posts are sized and set for the fence they were built for.
- Timber paling fences: posts are often already leaning or rotting at ground level. Adding a screen on top speeds that up.
- Colorbond style steel fences: the posts and rails are light sections designed for the standard sheet height. Extension kits exist, but they still count towards the 2 metre total.
- Masonry or rendered block walls: usually the best base, provided the screen is properly fixed into the wall.
Slatted screens handle wind better than solid panels because air passes through the gaps. The gap you choose changes both privacy and wind load, and we explain how to balance them in our guide to slat spacing for privacy and airflow.
The better option: a freestanding screen inside your boundary
In many yards the cleanest fix is not on the fence at all. A freestanding aluminium screen on its own posts, set just inside your boundary, has three advantages.
- It stands on its own footings, so it does not rely on an old fence to stay upright.
- It can go where the problem is. A screen placed close to your deck or pool blocks a high sightline at a lower height than one at the fence line, because it is nearer to you. That can keep you under 2 metres.
- It is yours. No shared ownership and no changes to the dividing fence.
Height limits and approvals can still apply to a freestanding screen, particularly close to a boundary, so check before you build.
Our custom aluminium privacy screens are made to measure on the Gold Coast with fully welded aluminium framing, in horizontal or vertical slats with spacing set to the level of privacy you need.
How to work out what you need
- Stand where you feel overlooked and note exactly where the view is coming from.
- Measure your existing fence height from natural ground on both sides, including any retaining wall.
- Work out how much extra height blocks the view from that spot. Hold up a broom or a length of timber and have someone check.
- If fence plus screen is over 2 metres, either plan for approval or look at a freestanding screen closer to the area you are protecting.
- Talk to your neighbour if the fence is shared.
Send us the measurements and a few photos and we will quote the screen to suit. Request a quote here or call 1300 375 695. We respond to quote requests within 24 hours.
FAQs
How high can a privacy screen be in Queensland? A fence or screen up to 2 metres above natural ground level generally does not need building approval. Above 2 metres, including the combined height of a fence, screen and retaining wall, building approval is required.
Does a privacy screen count as part of the fence height? Yes. Councils measure the combined height of fences, screens and retaining walls as one structure.
Can my neighbour attach a screen to our shared fence without asking? A fence on the common boundary is generally jointly owned, so changes should be agreed by both owners. If you cannot agree, the Queensland Government’s dividing fences guidance and QCAT set out the process.
Can I put a screen up inside my boundary instead? Yes, a freestanding screen on your own land avoids altering the shared fence. Height and boundary setback rules can still apply, so check with council or a certifier.
Do I need approval for a privacy screen on a deck or balcony? It depends on the height of the deck and how close it is to the boundary. Raised decks near a boundary often have their own screening requirements, so ask a building certifier.
Can I extend a Colorbond fence higher for privacy? Extension kits are available, but the extended fence still has to stay at or under 2 metres from natural ground to avoid building approval, and the posts need to be strong enough for the extra wind load.