Use this hub to identify questions and route to official information. It does not determine exemption, permit, licence or engineering status for a particular wall.
The national starting questions
- Where is the property and which local authority applies?
- What are the retained height, length and wall location?
- Is the wall near a boundary, building, driveway, pool, road or service?
- What loads, slopes, water and ground conditions affect it?
- Is the work new, altered, replaced or repaired?
- Who will design, certify, approve and build each part?
Published height triggers, by jurisdiction
Where the primary official source states a number, it is recorded here with its conditions. Height is one trigger among several: surcharge, distance to buildings and boundaries, overlays and water all change the answer. Blank cells mean the primary page routes to the local authority rather than publishing one figure.
| Jurisdiction | Figure on the primary source | Conditions that travel with it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | No building approval if the wall plus retained cut or fill is no more than 1 m above natural ground | No surcharge loading over the zone of influence; at least 1.5 m from a building or another retaining wall; not part of pool fencing; overlays and zones can still trigger planning approval | Brisbane City Council, retaining walls |
| Western Australia | No building permit if the wall does not exceed 0.5 m | Not part of other building work and must not adversely affect neighbours; planning approval in the street setback depends on the R-Code (1 m for R20, 0.5 m for R20/25 to R20/60 in the City of Joondalup guide); screening applies to fill over 0.5 m within 7.5 m of a side or rear boundary | City of Joondalup guide via the WA hub |
| ACT | No building approval up to 1.2 m measured from the top of the wall to the lowest adjacent ground | 1.2 m to 1.5 m allowed without BA only if it complies with the exempt building code and the building code and is built in a proper and skilful way; design standards apply above 1.2 m | ACT check if you need a BA |
| New South Wales | Height limit sits in the current Exempt Development Code clause; the Planning Portal page publishes the conditions, not the figure | Must not redirect surface or ground water or move sediment onto adjoining land; at least 2 m horizontally from any other retaining wall on the site; not on heritage items or within 40 m of natural water bodies; Building Code compliance | NSW Planning Portal |
| Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory | No single figure on the primary state page | Each state routes through its permit or development pathway and the local council; use the state guide and confirm with the authority or certifier | State guides |
Different roles solve different questions
| Role | Possible question |
|---|---|
| Planning or building authority | What pathway, exemption, permit or application applies? |
| Building certifier or surveyor | What approval and inspection evidence is required? |
| Engineer | What design and construction requirements address the loads and site? |
| Geotechnical professional | What ground or groundwater information is needed? |
| Licensed contractor | What work is within scope and how will it be built? |
Use the source date
Regulatory pages record the jurisdiction and review date because rules and regulator guidance change. Recheck the linked official source before relying on a pathway, especially after law, code or planning updates.
Confirm the current property-specific position with the relevant authority and appropriately qualified professionals before work.