No, a retaining wall is different to a fence as it is built to support an excavated or filled embankment. Retaining walls are subject to different planning and building approvals to fences.
Retaining wall
Check the requirements for building a retaining wall. Learn about the approvals you need before works begin.
What do I need to know before getting started?
Before you start your retaining wall project, you should:
- confirm key facts about your property, including zones and overlays, by using City Plan online
- understand the development application process.
You’ll also need to confirm if your project relates to:
- a dwelling house
- a subdivision
- a material change of use
- earthworks for filling and/or excavation.
For more information about how works for filling, excavation and retaining walls are regulated, download our guidelines.
Building requirements
The Queensland Development Code NMP 1.7 Retaining walls and excavation and filling recommends you:
- construct retaining walls up to one metre, requiring fill or excavation, in accordance with an accepted industry standard publication, depending on the materials used to construct it (e.g. timber, concrete masonry)
- include minimum clearances from roads and side and rear boundaries.
What types of approval do I need?
Planning approval
You generally don’t need planning approval if your proposed retaining wall supports filling or excavation less than one metre.
You may need planning if the site is:
- located on a site covered by the:
- located on a site subject to the:
- associated with the development of a dwelling house on a small lot
- associated with the subdivision of a site, particularly a site with a slope
- associated with a material change of use
- associated with the filling or excavation exceeding thresholds identified in the Flling and excavation code
- located in a neighbourhood plan area
- affected by an overlay.
If you need planning approval, you'll need to lodge a development application.
Building approval
You don’t need building approval for a retaining wall if:
- there's no 'surcharge loading' over the 'zone of influence' for the wall (refer to definitions in Schedule 1 Section 3 of the Building Regulation 2021)
- the total height of the wall and of the fill or cut retained by the wall is no more than one metre above the wall's natural ground surface
- the wall is no closer than 1.5 metres to a building or another retaining wall
- it doesn’t form part of the fencing for a pool.
If your project doesn’t meet the requirements, you’ll need to get building approval.
Even if you don’t need building approval, you'll need to ensure your work complies with all relevant building codes and standards outlined in the National Construction Code.
Organise building approval
Contact a licensed building certifier to organise building approval. You’ll need to supply scaled and detailed plans prepared by a draftsperson or architect.
Your building certifier can also seek alternative provisions, such as the setback from the front, side or rear boundary, by lodging a request for a referral response.
Lodge a development application
If planning approval is required, you’ll need to lodge a development application.
Follow our step-by-step guide to prepare and lodge a development application.
What happens after I lodge my development application?
Once we’ve received your development application, we‘ll check it:
- complies with properly made requirements
- includes all the relevant documents.
A fee quote will then be issued for payment. Council uses a points system to calculate development application fees, which can vary depending on your project.
Application assessment
Properly made applications proceed through an assessment process in set stages.
If your application is not properly made, you’ll receive an action notice and have 20 days to comply.
You must let Council know that the action notice has been complied with. We’ll consider whether the action notice has been fulfilled and issue a Confirmation Notice if satisfied that the application is properly made.
If you’re unsure, request information and advice.
Keep track of your development application
You can check the status of your development application on our development and search tracking tool, Development.i.
Look up your development application by number or location and select 'details'. The status is under 'progress'.
Information for building certifiers
Under the Planning Act 2016, Council must hold records of building construction approvals and certification information. These documents will be kept for a specified period of time and made available for inspection.
A detailed list of required lodgement materials is outlined in Planning Regulation 2017 and s86 of the Building Act 1975.
You can lodge building certification documents online for a fee of $72.30 (valid from 1 July 2024).
Sign in to the Services Brisbane for Business portal to lodge your building certification documents.
You can also lodge building documents at any Customer Centre. Phone Council’s Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263) to ask about the fees for lodging building documents in person.