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A retaining wall keeps soil in place.
It may hold soil back (for example, during excavation) or it may support soil to stop it moving within a property or on a boundary.
Use the guide below to work out which permits you need to build a retaining wall.
If you need help at any step, email [email protected] or call 03 9278 4888 and ask for our:
An easement is an area of land on your property that councils and other authorities are allowed to access. When an easement is obstructed, it can prevent important maintenance work and block the flow of stormwater.
Check your Certificate of Title for any easements. If you don’t have this document, you can get a copy from the Landata website for a small fee.
Some properties have special restrictions under the Boroondara Planning Scheme.
To check if your property is listed, visit the Department of Transport and Planning website’s Schedule to Clause 51.01 Specific Sites and Exclusions page.
If your property is listed, contact our Urban Planning team to find out what special restrictions and exemptions apply.
Create a Planning Property Report on the VicPlan website by entering the address of your property. This will show you any overlays (restrictions).
You need a Planning Permit if your property has any of these overlays:
If your property is on the Victorian Heritage Register you may also need approval from Heritage Victoria. Contact Heritage Victoria for advice on how to apply for approval.
Check the zone of your property in the Planning Property Report you created in Step 2.
You need a Planning Permit if your property is in a Commercial Zone 1 or Commercial Zone 2.
You may need a Planning Permit if your property is zoned residential or mixed use, but the retaining wall will be built for non-residential purposes (for example, as part of a medical centre).
Contact our Urban Planning team for advice.
Consider whether the retaining wall will be used to hold soil back during excavation. Retaining walls that support excavation have different rules than walls designed to keep soil in place.
Measure the height of the wall from its lowest point to the top.
Refer to the site plan to check where the wall is in relation to the property boundaries. The wall must be set back from the property boundaries at a distance equal to its height. For example, a 600 mm-high wall must be placed 600 mm away from the property boundaries.
You may need a Building Permit if the retaining wall:
Contact a registered building surveyor to find out if you need a Building Permit.
You always need a Building Permit if the retaining wall is higher than 1 m.
You may need other permits, depending on your situation.
If you need to:
If your works could impact:
You can begin construction:
