If your fence needs a building permit, council consent or a planning permit, we take care of the paperwork from drawings to stamped plans, so you deal with one contact. Here is what it typically costs and how long it takes.
Not sure whether you need a permit? Start with do you need a permit for a fence in Victoria?
These are the prices one Melbourne drafting and permit firm quoted us in October 2026 for front and side fences across metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong. Other firms will differ, so treat them as a guide to the market, not a fixed price.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plans and building permit package | $3,100 + GST | Site plan, elevations and specification, council property information, government levy and lodgement charges, the building surveyor fee, the permit with stamped plans, and up to 2 inspections |
| Report and consent (council siting dispensation) | $550 + $475 application fee | For fences that do not meet the siting rules, such as a corner fence over 1m or a front fence over the height limit |
| VicSmart planning permit | $700 + $500 application fee | When a planning overlay applies. The statutory fee shown is the $10,000 to $100,000 cost tier |
| Build over an easement | $350 + application fee | When the fence footings sit over a drainage or sewer easement |
| Melbourne Water approval | $250 | Only where Melbourne Water assets are affected |
| Structural engineer, arborist or land surveyor | $250 coordination + the consultant's fee | For example, engineering for a tall boundary fence. The consultant quotes separately |
| Extra surveyor inspection | $250 each | Beyond the 2 included |
| Changing the design after drawings start | $120 an hour | Changes the surveyor or council asks for are usually included |
Statutory application fees are set under Victorian regulations and change each financial year. Prices exclude GST unless stated. These figures are the permit side only, not the cost of the fence itself.
Get a free online instant estimate: draw your fence line on a satellite map, about 2 minutes. Your on-site measure and written quote are free and no-obligation.
Get my instant estimate →You only need to budget for a permit when the fence falls outside the standard exempt cases. The common ones are:
With a drafting and permit firm handling it, a straightforward fence permit usually takes 4 to 5 weeks from the go-ahead to stamped plans. Council consent or a planning permit adds time, and how much depends on the council and the overlay. Build that into your plans if you want the fence up before a particular date.
Most suburban fence replacements need no permit, and we check this on every quote. When yours does, you don't have to find a drafter, chase a building surveyor or deal with council yourself:
As a registered building practitioner (CDB-U 67771), we work to the permit and the Building Regulations from start to finish. Approval decisions rest with the building surveyor and council.
Draw your fence line on a satellite map and get a free online instant estimate. Your on-site measure and written quote are free and no-obligation (we need 24 hours' notice for a measure).
Get my instant estimate →Yes. If your fence needs a building permit, council consent or a planning permit, we take care of it through our drafting and permit partner, from the drawings to the stamped plans, and build to the approved plans. The permit fees are shown separately on your quote.
When a fence needs one, a typical drafting and building permit package in metropolitan Melbourne is around $3,100 + GST (about $3,410), including the plans, the building surveyor and up to 2 inspections. Council consent, planning permits and engineering are extra.
Usually not. Replacing a side or rear boundary fence like for like at up to 2 metres generally doesn't need a building permit in Victoria. Overlays and site details can change that, so we check this on every quote.
Report and consent typically runs about $550 for the application work plus a statutory application fee of about $475, on top of the permit package.
No. Where a tall boundary fence needs engineering, the drafter can coordinate an engineer, but the engineer's fee is quoted separately.
Around 4 to 5 weeks when no council approvals are needed. Council consent or a planning permit adds time, depending on the council.
Under the Fences Act, neighbours share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence. If one neighbour wants a taller fence that needs a permit, they generally pay the extra, including the permit, unless you both agree otherwise. See who pays for a dividing fence.
General information only, current at October 2026. Prices are a quote one Melbourne drafting and permit firm gave us in October 2026; other firms differ, statutory fees change each financial year, and your property may need approvals not listed here. Always confirm with your council or a registered building surveyor. This guide is not legal advice.