Fencing in Craigieburn

Craigieburn sits west of Wollert across Merri Creek, and the creek is also a council boundary: Craigieburn is in Hume City Council, not the City of Whittlesea, so its fence permit guidance, pool registration and neighbour contact forms come from a different council. Enquiries from Craigieburn go to an independent local fencer who handles the quote and the work, as described on our about page.

How Craigieburn grew

Craigieburn, postcode 3064 (shared with Donnybrook), is about 25 km north of the Melbourne CBD. Its suburban growth began in 1972 with the first residential subdivision, followed by a shopping centre and sporting facilities through the 1970s. Large estates came later, including Stockland’s Highlands, the largest development in the suburb, and others such as Aston, Annadale and Trilium. Merri Creek forms Craigieburn’s eastern boundary.

So Craigieburn has two quite different fencing markets. Streets built in the first decades of that growth have fences that can be very old, while the estates have steel and timber boundaries from more recent years.

Hume City Council’s fence rules

Hume’s fencing page sets out when a building permit is needed:

Fence	Permit needed when
Side or rear boundary	Higher than 2 m
Front fence within 3 m of the street	Higher than 1.5 m
Corner fence within 9 m of intersecting streets	Higher than 1 m
Brick or masonry fence	Higher than 1.2 m
Retaining wall	Higher than 1 m

Hume notes that fencing law in Victoria comes from the Fences Act 1968, the Building Regulations 2018 and the local planning scheme, and that it cannot mediate fencing disputes between private owners. For a disagreement with a neighbour it points owners to the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria. Hume also takes requests for a neighbouring owner’s details for a shared fence, though it does not promise to release them.

Fences next to parks and reserves

Craigieburn properties that share a boundary with Council land such as a park or reserve may qualify for a Council contribution through Hume’s half-cost fencing program. The policy excludes fences along a street alignment, including corner lots, curved streets, laneways and walkways. If your rear fence backs onto a reserve, apply through Hume before agreeing a quote, because the program has its own application form.

Common Craigieburn jobs

• Replacing older timber fences in the older streets, where posts have rotted; compare timber paling fences with steel.
• Checking old sheet fences for asbestos. Homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos, and fences are on the Victorian Asbestos Hub’s list. The fence repairs page explains why suspected fibro should be tested first.
• Colorbond boundaries in the estates, either new or replacing damaged panels; see Colorbond fencing.
• Pool barriers. Hume requires pools and spas deeper than 300 mm to be registered and a certificate of barrier compliance (Form 23) lodged every four years.

Pools and Hume registration

Hume’s pool registration page says a building inspector or surveyor issues the Form 23 certificate and that failing to register a pool or lodge a certificate can attract a penalty. If a fence replacement touches a pool barrier, plan for a fresh inspection; the pool fencing page explains the inspection outcomes.

Before you get a Craigieburn quote

1. Confirm your property is in Hume, not over the creek in Whittlesea.
2. Check whether a rear or side boundary adjoins a park or reserve and if the half-cost program applies.
3. Measure the runs and note heights near the street or an intersection.
4. Identify the fence material, especially on older homes.
5. Talk to the neighbour about timing and shared costs.

Price ranges for each fence type are in the Wollert fencing cost guide, which applies equally across the creek. When you are ready, lodge a Craigieburn fencing enquiry with your street and what needs doing.

Send a job enquiry