Home Q&A: How tall can the fencing outside the front of my property be?

The limit for front fencing or walling alongside the driveway and skirting the roadside is 1.2m in height without planning permission. File picture: iStock

Question

How tall can my front fencing be? We live on a busy road in a town.

Answer

The limit for front fencing or walling alongside the driveway and skirting the roadside is 1.2m in height without planning permission (Class 5, Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001). 

It’s clear that some homeowners use climbers on their front fence or wall to raise its profile. The important thing is not to add anything fixed without permission. There is no limit on the height of hedging, which makes a nonsense of the planning office's argument around traffic safety, as hedging growing too thickly often causes traffic issues. 

Walls and fencing at least do not move. If you buy a home with an especially high front wall or fence, the searches should reveal if planning was applied for to go beyond the standard allowable 1.2m. 

If it was put in without planning in recent years, retention permission may be required and may be refused depending on the location. 

If you want to plant hedging, it must be maintained so as to not interfere with people using the pavement and the sight lines for drivers on the road. Consult a local engineer or ask for a chat with someone in the local authority if you are considering making a planning application to avoid wasted time and effort.

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