Joondalup Fencing Regulations: Brick vs Aluminium Slat Fences
Choosing the right fence for a home in the City of Joondalup, covering suburbs like Hillarys, Iluka, Kallaroo, Kingsley, Marmion, Mullaloo, Ocean Reef, and Sorrento, can be tricky. Homeowners want privacy, security, and style, but it’s important to understand local regulations to avoid delays or unnecessary permits. Knowing the basics of fence heights, materials, and visual requirements makes planning a new fence much easier.
Fencing Regulations in the City of Joondalup
One key consideration is that fences above 1.2 metres along the verge directly adjacent to a property are usually required to be visually permeable. This means the fence must allow some line of sight from the street, which helps maintain safety and a consistent streetscape.
According to the Residential Design Codes , a visually permeable fence can include:
Vertical or horizontal gaps 50mm or wider, occupying at least one-third of the fence’s total surface area.
Smaller gaps (less than 50mm), provided they collectively occupy at least half of the fence’s total surface area.
These guidelines ensure that taller fences don’t create a completely solid barrier along the street, balancing privacy with visibility.
Adding Infills to an Existing Brick Fence
For existing brick fences, adding infills such as aluminium slats is usually not subject to council approval. This makes it simple to improve both the style and visual permeability of the fence without needing a building permit.
Building a New Brick Fence
When building a new brick fence in the City of Joondalup:
A brick fence can generally be built up to 750mm in height without a permit.
Fences taller than 750mm usually require a building permit, which involves council approval and extra paperwork.
Choosing Slat and Gap Sizes to Meet Regulations
When installing aluminium slat fencing in the City of Joondalup, selecting the right slat width and gap size is key to complying with visually permeable requirements.
Gaps 50mm or wider must occupy at least one-third of the total fence surface.
Smaller gaps under 50mm can be used if they collectively make up at least half of the fence surface.
This means homeowners can adjust the combination of slat widths and gaps to achieve the right balance of privacy, style, and compliance. For example:
Wider slats with larger gaps create a modern look while easily meeting the one-third rule.
Narrower slats with smaller gaps allow a more subtle effect but may require more careful planning to reach the half-surface coverage requirement.
Aluminium Slat Fencing: A Practical Solution
Aluminium slat fencing is an ideal alternative for taller fences that comply with Joondalup regulations:
Slat fences can often be built without a building permit, even at heights above 1.2 metres.
They can feature a solid lower section for privacy and gaps above 1.2m to meet visual permeability requirements.
Aluminium slats are durable, low-maintenance, and combine style, security, and compliance in a single solution.
