If your fence borders a park, reserve or drainage land, your council isn't legally required to pay half — councils are exempt under the Fences Act. But many contribute under their own policy. What matters is checking your council's policy before the fence is built.
CHECK MY COUNCIL CONTRIBUTION →Governed by the Fences Act contribution framework. Your neighbour is liable for half of a sufficient dividing fence. That's an entitlement — if they won't pay, you can pursue it.
How your neighbour's half works →Different rules apply. Municipal councils and others who own or manage public parks and reserves are exempted from contributing to dividing fences, and the Act likewise exempts particular types of Crown land. The Victorian Government may choose to contribute in some circumstances, but it isn't required to.
Many have a written policy for fences on the boundary of their reserves, parks and drainage reserves. The form varies: a rate per metre, a share of an approved quote, sometimes limited to a particular fence type.
From each council's published policy as at August 2026. Amounts and conditions change — get the current version in writing from the council before you rely on it. We do exactly that as part of the quote.
Tell us your suburb and what the fence backs onto. We'll check the current council policy, tell you whether a contribution is available and explain what you need to do before the fence is built.
If there's nothing available, we'll tell you that too.
We'll check your council's current policy and call you back with what's available, if anything, and what needs to happen before the fence is built.
Every contribution policy we've seen requires the council's sign-off before work starts. A quote approved after the fence is up is not a quote they'll pay against.
Any contribution is subject to the council's policy and approval. Until you have it in writing, plan as if you're paying the whole invoice.
Tell us your suburb and what the fence backs onto. We'll check the current council policy, tell you whether a contribution is available and explain what you need to do before construction.
If there is nothing available, we'll tell you that too.