You have a lot of freedom in how a fence looks, but not a free hand in what it is made from. Some materials are banned outright across Australia, and others are restricted depending on where you live and what the fence borders. Most of these rules live in state legislation and in individual council fencing local laws, so the detail varies. Here is the national picture, with the parts that change by state flagged honestly. Always confirm with your own council before you order materials.
Asbestos cement
Asbestos was used everywhere in Australian construction from the 1930s for its heat resistance, insulation and low cost, including in fencing sheet. It was phased out through the 1980s as the health effects became clear, and a total national ban took effect on 31 December 2003. Since then it has been illegal to import, sell, install, use or re-use asbestos in any form, as set out by the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency. That puts asbestos cement at the top of the banned list. If you have an old asbestos fence, it must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist, not by you.
Broken glass and spikes on top of a fence
Cementing broken glass, spikes or other sharp projections along the top of a fence to deter intruders is not allowed on boundary fences under most council local laws, because they can injure or kill someone, including people with a lawful reason to be near the fence. If you want a fence topped for security, use a compliant option like a spiked top-rail or barbed wire within the rules below, not improvised sharp materials.
Barbed wire
Barbed wire is not banned, but it is heavily restricted near people. Under typical council fencing local laws, a homeowner cannot run barbed wire along a residential boundary fence at all. On rural, commercial and industrial lots it is allowed subject to conditions that commonly include:
- On townsite, rural or rural-residential lots near a public place, the barbed wire must sit on the top or side of the posts furthest from that public place.
- On commercial or industrial lots, barbed wire is generally only permitted where it is fixed vertically or angled at 45 degrees, the bottom strand is at least 2 metres above ground, and the fence is set back from the boundary if the wire angles outward.
The exact figures come from your council's local law, so check yours before you build.
Razor wire
Razor wire is designed to snag and tear, so it carries the tightest controls. It generally needs council approval, and approval is commonly refused where the property adjoins a residential or townsite lot, where the fence is within about 3 metres of the boundary, or where the wire would sit below 2 metres or above roughly 2.4 metres from ground level. It belongs on secure industrial and correctional sites, not near homes.
Combustible materials in bushfire-prone areas
In designated bushfire-prone areas, combustible fencing materials such as timber and plastic are restricted, and non-combustible materials like steel, stone or concrete are required or strongly preferred. A non-combustible fence can slow a fire reaching your home. Whether your block is bushfire-prone is mapped by your state fire authority; in New South Wales that is the NSW Rural Fire Service bush fire prone land maps, with equivalent mapping in each other state. This is a strong argument for metal fencing on a bush block.
Electrified fencing
Electric security fencing is restricted, not banned. It generally will not be approved where the property adjoins a residential or townsite lot, where there is no way to make the fence inoperable during business hours, or where it is not built to the electric-fence standard AS/NZS 3016, which covers electrical installations for electric security fences. Agricultural electric fencing for stock is treated separately and is common on rural land.
Pre-used and recycled materials
Re-using old fencing materials is usually allowed but often needs council approval, for residential, commercial and industrial lots alike. Painting or treating the recycled material as directed by the building surveyor improves your chances of approval. It is worth the phone call before you start, so you are not made to pull the fence down later.
The short version
Asbestos is banned nationally and full stop. Broken glass and improvised spikes are out on boundary fences. Barbed wire, razor wire and electric fencing are allowed only within strict conditions that get stricter the closer you are to homes and public places. Combustible materials are restricted on bushfire-prone land. Everything else comes down to your state legislation and your council's fencing local law, so make the call before you order, not after.