Trade 11 of 33Updated May 2026

A research dossier · 41 NSW + 32 QLD + 31 VIC homeowner posts · Dividing Fences Acts cross-referenced

Hiring a Fencer
has two questions:
posts + neighbour.

Fencing looks simple. It mostly isn\'t. The half of the job that decides whether the fence is standing in 15 years sits 600mm underground — post hole depth, concrete spec, soil class. The other half is the neighbour you legally have to share the cost with. The cheap fencer cuts corners on the first half, and the wrong fencer doesn\'t mention the second half at all.

600mm

Minimum post-hole depth for a 1.8m fence.

50/50

Default cost split with the neighbour under each state Dividing Fences Act.

1.8m

Standard residential boundary height — without council approval.

How this page was built

A research dossier, not a referral page.

Sources

Reddit + Whirlpool, ProductReview, Dividing Fences Act NSW + Neighbourhood Disputes Act QLD + Fences Act VIC, NSW Fair Trading + QBCC + VBA.

Verification

Pricing + post-hole depth cross-checked against AS 1684 + manufacturer specs. Dividing-fences cost-share rules verified per state.

Funding

No fencer pays for placement. No referral fees. Funded by the supply-side flyer service at flyers.needatrade.com.au.

Before we start

The fence is the easy part.
The post + the neighbour are the job.

Fencing failure splits 80/20: 80% of failures are posts coming out of the ground, 20% are the panels themselves. The cheap fencer digs a 300mm post hole, drops in two bags of cheap concrete, and walks away. Inside 5 years your fence leans, and inside 10 it\'s on the ground.

The neighbour side is its own minefield. Every state has a Dividing Fences Act setting the rules: how much notice you have to give, what counts as "sufficient fencing", how disputes get resolved at the local court. A working fencer knows the form numbers. A cowboy says "she\'ll be right, just tell them you\'re putting it up."

Notice the neighbour in writing. Get the cost-share agreement in writing. Before the post holes are dug.

How much should it really cost?

Fencing is priced per linear metre. The variance is in post hole depth + concrete spec + finish details.

Five lines a real fencing quote shows

1Demo + site prep. Removing old fence, levelling, tip fees.
2Post specification. Material (steel / treated pine / hardwood), hole depth (600mm minimum), concrete mix.
3Panels / rails / palings. Material + brand, thickness, fixings (galvanised vs stainless).
4Gates + hardware. Frame type, latch, hinge, drop bolt. Hardware brand named.
5Neighbour notification + cost-share. Form lodged. Cost split agreement attached.

Indicative ranges · per linear metre

AU 2026

Colorbond (1.8m · standard)	$110 – $180/m
Treated pine paling (1.8m)	$95 – $160/m
Hardwood paling (spotted gum / merbau)	$180 – $320/m
Aluminium slat (modern · privacy)	$220 – $420/m
Gate (pedestrian · matching material)	$450 – $1,800 ea
Cheap quote (shallow post · light concrete)	under $80/m

Indicative. Slope, removal of mature shrubs, council overlays, pool-fencing compliance = upper end.

Ask this, exactly

Save · share · screenshot

"Can you send the quote with post depth (mm), concrete spec, post + panel materials, gate hardware brands, and the neighbour cost-share agreement?"

How to tell a real one from a cowboy.

The fencing cowboy lives in the post hole. Looks identical from above ground at handover. Tells the truth five years later when the fence starts leaning.

Red flags — in order of how often you'll meet them

!
Post depth under 600mm
600mm is the minimum for a 1.8m fence in stable soil. Reactive clay or sandy soil needs more. The cheap quote\'s 300–400mm post hole = fence falling over in 5 years.
!
No mention of the Dividing Fences process
A working fencer either lodges the notice with the neighbour, or hands you the form to do it. A cowboy says "just talk to them" — and you end up paying 100% when they refuse to pay.
!
Wrong-side palings
Tradition: the "good side" (smooth side of palings) faces your neighbour. State laws vary, but a working fencer asks. A cowboy puts the rough side facing the neighbour without asking, then you cop the complaint.
!
No setback for non-standard heights
Over 1.8m generally needs council approval (and a setback). Pool fence has its own rules. Cowboys build to the height you ask without checking — and council enforces removal a year later.
!
Cash payment
Standard pattern. No invoice = no warranty + nothing to claim against when the fence fails.

The verification routine — 5 minutes, free

✓
State licence above threshold (NSW: $5k+. QLD: $3.3k+. VIC: $10k+).
✓
ABN on abr.business.gov.au.
✓
Public liability + workers comp. Certificate of currency.
✓
Knows the state Dividing Fences Act. Can name the form to lodge with the neighbour.
✓
Two reference jobs at year 7+. Old fence still straight, posts still solid. Drive past.

Ask this, exactly

"Can you confirm post depth, concrete spec, and tell me what notice we need to give my neighbour under the state Dividing Fences Act?"

Licence + the Dividing Fences Act.

Each state has its own Dividing Fences Act setting the rules for who pays, what counts as "sufficient", and how disputes resolve.

NSWNew South Wales

Dividing Fences Act 1991

Neighbour cost-share defaults to 50/50 for a "sufficient" fence.
Notice required before commencement.
Disputes go to NCAT or Local Court.
Fencing licence above $5k (Specialist Trade).

QLDQueensland

Neighbourhood Disputes Act

Cost share via Form 1 notice to neighbour.
Dispute resolution via QCAT.
QBCC licence above $3,300.
Brisbane City pool-fencing has its own regime.

VICVictoria

Fences Act 1968

Fencing Notice required before commencement.
Disputes via Magistrates Court or VCAT.
VBA registration above $10k.

Half-time

Posts + notice. Get them right, the rest is panels.

Quote anatomy, the cowboy test, the dividing-fences rules. The first three sort the working fencers from the boundary-cowboys. The next seven are how you tell working fencers apart — and how the fence still stands in 2046.

When can they fit you in?

Fencers typically 4–8 weeks out. Neighbour notice adds 21–30 days minimum on top in most states. Concrete pours need a dry window for the post cure. A working fencer schedules around all three.

Notice window.

21–30 days neighbour notice in most states. Cost-share agreed during this window.

Realistic install.

Standard 30m residential fence: 2–4 days for two-person crew. Allow concrete cure before fence is finished.

Weather + season.

Post concrete cure needs 24–48 hours dry. Heavy rain delays. Hot weather + clay = different cure regime.

Ask this, exactly

"What\'s your real start window after I lodge the neighbour notice, and what\'s your rule if it rains during the post cure?"

What happens next, step by step.

1Step
Site visit + design
Measure boundary. Confirm height + material. Photograph existing fence + access. Soil check.
2Step
Notice to neighbour
Fencing notice lodged under the state Dividing Fences Act. 21–30 days for response. Cost-share agreed.
3Step
Contract + deposit
10% deposit (max). Schedule confirmed. Variation rules in writing. Cost-share contributions tracked.
4Step
Demo + post holes
Old fence removed. Posts marked at correct spacing. Holes dug to specified depth.
5Step
Set posts + concrete
Posts plumbed + concreted. 24–48 hour cure before panel install.
6Step
Panels + gate + sign-off
Panels fixed. Gate installed + tested. Walk-through with you. Final invoice + photos.

Colorbond, timber, or aluminium?

Option A · most common

Colorbond

Steel sheet on steel posts. 15-year manufacturer paint warranty. No painting, no rotting.

Right when: low maintenance + modern aesthetic + longest lifespan.

Wrong when: heritage area requires timber.

$110 – $180/m

Option B

Timber

Treated pine palings most common. Hardwood (spotted gum / merbau) premium. Needs staining every 3–5 years.

Right when: heritage area, natural look, ok with maintenance.

Wrong when: low maintenance + long life are priorities.

$95 – $320/m

Option C

Aluminium slat

Modern slatted look. Powder-coated. Filter light + privacy in one. Premium price.

Right when: modern architecture, want airflow + privacy + design statement.

Wrong when: budget-conscious — Colorbond delivers similar privacy at half the price.

$220 – $420/m

Warranty — two clocks.

Layer 01
Statutory workmanship
ACL + state-specific. 6 years on structural fencing above threshold (residential).
Layer 02
Fencer's workmanship
Typically 12 months to 5 years. Post stability, panel attachment, gate operation.
Layer 03
Material warranty
BlueScope Colorbond: 15 years on paint. Aluminium powder-coat: 10 years typical. Treated pine: limited.
Layer 04
Insurance-backed
HBC / HW / DBI above state thresholds. Same rules as builder.

Ask this, exactly

"Could you list workmanship + material warranties, with year limits, in writing?"

Soil, slope, setback rules.

Reactive clay
Sites that swell + shrink. Deeper posts, more concrete, wider spacing. The cheap fencer ignores this.
Slope
Stepped vs raked. Stepped looks better but costs more. Steep blocks need engineered retaining underneath.
Height + setback
1.8m standard. Over that = council approval + likely setback from boundary. Front fences often capped at 1.2m.
Pool fencing
Separate compliance regime (AS 1926). Pool builder usually coordinates. Not standard fence work.

Ask this, exactly

"Have you checked the soil + slope + council height rules — and is what we\'re building compliant without a DA?"

Edge cases — get a second opinion for…

Pool fencing (AS 1926)
Strict compliance regime. Different latches + gates. Specialist installer — usually the pool builder coordinates.
Heritage / Conservation Area
Material match required. Picket timber, wrought iron. Standard Colorbond often refused.
Retaining wall + fence combo
Engineered retaining over 600mm + fence on top. Different trades coordinated. Engineering certificate required.
Bushfire zone (BAL-rated)
Plant choices restricted near fence. Some materials prohibited within defensible space.
Strata / common-property
Owners corporation approval. Boundary location can be ambiguous in strata — survey may be required.
Disputed boundary
Surveyor required before fencing. Don't guess — boundary disputes are expensive.
Steep slope (>15°)
Stepped fence with structural posts. May need engineering input.
Old retaining + fence (failing)
Diagnose retaining first. Sometimes the retaining failure is what's pulling the fence over.
Tree roots + fence line
Concrete poured around existing roots can damage tree. Council protection if it's a significant tree.

After they leave.

Fencing aftercare splits by material. Colorbond: nothing for 15 years. Timber: stain every 3–5 years. Aluminium: occasional rinse. The cost-share documentation is the third aftercare element — keep it for the next time you sell.

Cost-share record.

Neighbour\'s contribution + the signed agreement. Required if you ever sell or if the fence is replaced in the future.

Timber stain schedule.

Treated pine: re-stain every 3–4 years. Hardwood: every 4–5 years. Skip = grey + cracked + the warranty void.

Gate adjustment.

Hinges loosen, ground settles. A working fencer happily comes back to re-align at year 1.

BlueScope Colorbond warranty.

15-year paint warranty. Register the install with BlueScope to activate.

Ask this, exactly

"Will you provide the cost-share documentation + the BlueScope warranty registration (if Colorbond) + the stain schedule (if timber)?"

If you've read this far

A fencer who names the post depth + the neighbour notice in the same breath is not a unicorn. It's the bar.

We can introduce you to fencers in your area who already work this way. No paid placement.

✓ No referral fees✓ Verified means all 10✓ No spam

Find a vetted fencer Colorbond · timber · aluminium

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Trade 11 of 33.

Hiring a Fencerhas two questions: posts + neighbour.

A research dossier, not a referral page.

The fence is the easy part.The post + the neighbour are the job.

Colorbond

Timber

Aluminium slat

A fencer who names the post depth + the neighbour notice in the same breath is not a unicorn. It's the bar.

Hiring a Fencer
has two questions:
posts + neighbour.

The fence is the easy part.
The post + the neighbour are the job.