Fences, boundaries and retaining walls

What is fencing work?

Under the Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW), fencing work includes:

• the design, construction, replacement, repair or maintenance of all or part of the dividing fence
• surveying or preparing the land on either side of the boundary for the fence, including planting and maintaining a hedge; and cleaning, deepening or altering a ditch that serves as a dividing fence
• trimming, lopping or removing vegetation for the purpose of preparing land for fencing work.

What is a sufficient dividing fence?

Owners must share the cost of building, repairing or replacing a sufficient dividing fence between their properties (unless the dividing fence acts as a barrier for a swimming pool or where the fence has been damaged by one owner). 

What is a sufficient dividing fence will depend on: 

• the standard of the existing fence, if there is one
  
• other kinds of fences in the area
  
• the way the land on either side is used
  
• the Local Council's requirements
  
• privacy concerns of the adjoining landowners. 

For more information, see Your rights and obligations on the My problem is about section of our website.

Does my neighbour have to share the cost of a dividing fence?

Generally, the law says that adjoining owners must share the cost of building or repairing a sufficient dividing fence between their properties, unless:

• the fence acts as a barrier for a swimming pool
• the fence has been damaged by one owner
• one owner wants a higher standard fence than what is defined as a sufficient dividing fence
• one owner is a public authority
  
• one owner wants to pay for the full cost of fencing work.

My neighbour has damaged our dividing fence. Who has to pay for the repairs?

If an existing fence has been damaged, either deliberately or accidentally, the neighbour who caused the damage is usually responsible to restore the fence to the condition it was in before it was damaged.

The builder has damaged the fence when building a property next door, who is required to replace the fence?

If the dividing fence has been damaged, either deliberately or accidentally, the adjoining owner who caused the damage is usually responsible to restore the fence to the condition it was in before it was damaged.

If the dividing fence was damaged by the neighbour’s builder, you should speak to the neighbour first. They can ask the builder to fix the damaged fence. If your neighbour or their builder refuses to fix the damaged fence, you can serve a fencing notice to the neighbour to pay for the cost of fixing the fence.

For more information, see Who should pay? in Your rights and obligations on the My problem is about section of our website.

Who pays for a dividing fence if it is a barrier for a swimming pool?

Adjoining owners must share the cost of building or repairing a sufficient dividing fence between their properties. If, however, a portion or all of the dividing fence operates as a barrier for a swimming pool then the owner of the property that has the pool is responsible for all of the costs to maintain, repair or replace that part of the fence. This is covered in the Swimming Pools Act 1992 (NSW).

If both owners of adjoining properties have a dividing fence that acts as a barrier for two pools then both owners are responsible for the costs in maintaining, repairing or replacing the dividing fence in appropriate proportions.

If you are not sure about whether you are responsible for the costs to replace a dividing fence that acts as a barrier for a swimming pool, you should get legal advice.

Does a public authority have to share the cost of a dividing fence?

A public authority doesn’t have a legal responsibility to share the cost of a dividing fence with you. Public authorities include Local Councils, Housing NSW, or a public school.

Can a tree on the boundary​ be cut down to allow for fencing work?

​​Fencing work includes:

• the design, construction, replacement, repair and maintenance of all or part of the dividing fence
  
• preparation of land for a dividing fence, including trimming, lopping or removal of vegetation along or on either side of the boundary line.​

According to the procedure set out in the Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW), to carry out fencing work any trees on the boundary line can be trimmed, lopped or removed to prepare for the dividing fence. You should speak to: 

• your neighbour about what work needs to be done
• a professional about the work needed, for example, a fencing contractor or a tree lopper.

If more than 50% of the tree is on the neighbour’s property you can’t cut it down without your neighbour's consent. If you remove the tree without your neighbour's consent, your neighbour may start a claim against you for property damage.

You should talk to your neighbour first about a problem with a tree. If your neighbour doesn't agree, you can try mediation.

You should also contact your Local Council to find out whether you need council approval to remove or prune a tree. There are penalties for removing protected trees.

For more information, see the Trees topic.

What can I ​​do if I want to repair, replace or build a dividing fence?

If you want to repair, replace or build a dividing fence you can:

• talk to your neighbour about the fencing work to see if you can reach an agreement
• serve your neighbour with a fencing notice
• apply for a fencing order after one month of serving a fencing notice, if you have been unable to reach an agreement with your neighbour. 

If you need help negotiating with your neighbour, you could also try mediation.

For more information, see the Mediation on Local Court of NSW website.

Adjoining owners must generally share the cost of building or repairing a sufficient dividing fence between their properties.

It is important to be aware that:

• the responsibility of sharing the cost of a sufficient dividing fence is different if the dividing fence acts as a barrier for a swimming pool
• a neighbour that intentionally or negligently damages a dividing fence will usually have to pay for the full cost of repairs to the fence
• urgent fencing work may be able to be undertaken without agreement from your neighbour, but it may depend on your circumstances.

Before you apply for a fencing order or carry out urgent fencing work, you should get legal advice.

What if urgent fencing work is needed?

Under the Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW), if a damaged fence requires urgent repairs and it is not practicable to serve a fencing notice, you can repair the fence without first contacting your neighbour, and then claim a contribution from them towards the costs of the fencing work.

It always a good idea if you can speak to your neighbour first about why the urgent fencing work is needed, how the cost of repairs will be shared and what is a reasonable time to carry out the fencing work. You should put any agreement you reach in writing and keep any proof of why the urgent work was needed, such as photos.

If your neighbour disputes that the fencing work was urgent, they can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or Local Court of NSW within a month of the work being completed to review the need for the work and how the costs of the work are paid.

If your neighbour doesn't pay, you can:

• try to reach an agreement with them
• try mediation, or
• apply to either NCAT or the Local Court of NSW.

If you undertake fencing work without giving your neighbour notice because you believe the work is urgent, and the Local Court of NSW or NCAT find it was not urgent work, you may not be able to get a contribution from your neighbour.

For more information, see Urgent fencing work on the My problem is about section of our website.

How can I find ​​​out who owns the neighbouring property?

If you want to do fencing work but you don't know the owner of the neighbouring property, you can:

• contact the tenant or managing agent of the property
• carry out a title search of the property
• search the telephone directory
• make a government information access application to your Local Council.

For more information, see Finding your neighbour in Talk to your neighbour on the My problem is about section of our website.

Do I need my neighbour's agreement if I pay for the full cost of the work?

Fencing work on a dividing fence must be done with the agreement of both owners of neighbouring properties. However, if you are happy to pay the entire cost of building, fixing or repairing a dividing fence then your neighbour will not have to share the cost of the work. It is still important for you and your neighbour to talk about what type of fence will be built and where it will go to avoid a dispute later.

If you access your neighbour's property to remove or undertake fencing work without their permission, you will be trespassing on their property. Trespass is a criminal offence and you could be charged by the Police. You could also be held responsible for any damage caused to the fence, or your neighbour's property.

Can I enter my neighbour's​​ property without their permission?

If you enter your neighbour's property without their permission, you will be trespassing unless:

• urgent fencing work is required
  
• there is an agreement between you and your neighbour
  
• you have a NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or Local Court of NSW order for fencing work
• you have an order from the Local Court of NSW that allows you to access their property under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 2000 (NSW).
  

Any fencing work that you do must be carried out at a reasonable time.

For more information on making an access application, see the FAQ below Access to my neighbour's property.

Do I need my neighbour's​​ agreement if I build the fence on my land?

A fence that is not exactly on the boundary line is still a dividing fence under the Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW). This means that you and your neighbour will equally own the fence and that you need your neighbour's agreement for any proposed fencing work.

In practice, it may be difficult for your neighbour to stop you building a fence on your side of the boundary if you do it at your own cost.

If the fence is on my side of the boundary, do I lose ownership of my strip of land that is on the other side of the fence?

It depends on whether your land is Torrens Title or Old System. Most land is Torrens Title, so this means in most cases, you won't lose ownership of any land on the other side of a dividing fence.

For more information, see Neighbours and the law on the Find Legal Answers website.

I want to build a new dividing fence but the adjoining land is vacant. How can I find out who the owners are?

Before you carry out any fencing work, you should try to locate the owner of the adjoining land. 

You can do a title search through NSW Land Registry Services to find out the name of the registered owners or contact the local council and make an access application. If the property is tenanted, you can ask the managing agent.

For more information, see Finding your neighbour in Talk to your neighbour on the My problem is about section of our website.

I have built a new dividing fence without contacting the owner of the adjoining vacant land. The new owners are building a home on the land. Can I ask for a contribution for the fencing work from the new owners?

No. If you have already built a dividing fence before your neighbour purchased their land, you can’t seek a contribution towards the fencing work from your new neighbour.

I want to carry​​ out fencing work but I am not sure if there is an underground cable or pipe. How can I check?

If you are planning​​ to carry out any type of excavation work to build a fence, retaining wall or general landscaping work, you (or your contractor) must lodge an enquiry with Dial Before You Dig before you commence work. This free search will provide you with information about the location of any cables or pipes below the surface of the excavation site.

For more information, see the Dial Before You Dig​ website.

If you deliberately or negligently damage an underground cable or pipe during your excavation work, the asset owner may seek compensation for the damage you have caused.

The neighbour’s property is tenanted. Can I send a fencing notice to the managing agent?

If you don’t know the owner’s postal address, you can ask the managing agent if they can give you the owner’s contact details, or if they can forward the fencing notice to the owner of the property. 

For more information, see Finding your neighbour in Talk to your neighbour on the My problem is about section of this website.  

What is a fencing ​​notice?

If you can't reach an agreement with your neighbour about fencing work, you can serve them with a fencing notice. A fencing notice is a written notice that says what fencing work you want done and asks your neighbour to contribute to the cost.

If you serve a fencing notice and, after one month, you and your neighbour still can't come to an agreement (or your neighbour simply doesn't respond to the fencing notice), either you or your neighbour can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or Local Court of NSW for a fencing order.

For more information, see Step by step guide - Preparing a Fencing Notice on the My problem is about section of our website.

What if we reach​​ an agreement without using a fencing notice?

If you reach an agreement with your neighbour about fencing work, you should put the agreement in writing. Any written agreement should include details about the type of fencing work, position of the fence and how the costs of the work are to be paid. 

For more information, see Talk to your neighbour on the My problem is about section of our website.

What if my neighbour​​ does not respond to the fencing notice?

If you serve a fencing notice and, after one month, your neighbour doesn't respond, or you and your neighbour can't reach an agreement, either of you can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or the Local Court of NSW for an order for fencing work.

How do I apply for a fencing order?

If you or your neighbour has served a fencing notice and, after one month, you and your neighbour still can't come to an agreement, you can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or the Local Court of NSW for an order for fencing work.

A fencing order is a decision by NCAT or the Local Court of NSW about what fencing work should be done.

If you want to apply for a fencing order, you will need to fill in an application form and pay a filing fee. The form and fees vary depending on whether you are applying to NCAT or the Local Court of NSW. 

For more information see Fencing Orders on the My problem is about​ section of our website.

Before applying for a fencing order, you should get legal advice.

How do I apply for an adjournment?

If you want to change the date of the hearing, you should inform the other party in writing and ask them if they agree. You will need to complete the Adjournment request form or send a request in writing explaining your reasons for an adjournment. You should include supporting documents with your request. 

It is up to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to accept or refuse the adjournment.

For more information, see Adjournments on the NCAT website.

How is a fencing order​ enforced?

Certain action can be taken to enforce a fencing order, regardless of whether it was made by the Local Court of NSW, Local Land Board (before 1 January 2014), or the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

For more information, see After the decision on the My problem is about​ section of our website.

What if I go ahead with​ fencing work without a fencing order or agreement with my neighbour?

If you go ahead with fencing work without an agreement with your neighbour or fencing order, you generally will not be able to recover a contribution to the cost of fencing work except in very limited circumstances, for example where urgent work was necessary.

There may be very limited circumstances where you are able to get an order to serve a fencing notice within 12 months from when the fence is built.

If you want to claim a contribution from your neighbour and the fencing work has been completed, you should get legal advice.

What can I do if I missed my NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing date and my matter was dismissed?

If you were the party that applied to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) and your matter was dismissed because you didn't go to the hearing, you may be able to make a reinstatement application if you have a reasonable excuse for not attending, for example, you were in hospital or you didn't receive the notice telling you when you had to attend.

You will need to complete an Application to reinstate proceedings form. You can get a copy from the Forms page on the NCAT website.

You must attach any documents that support your explanation, such as:

• medical certificates
• travel documents
  
• emails or other communications.

You must lodge your application within seven days from the date the decision to dismiss the proceedings. This time frame may only be extended in special circumstances.

You will need to pay a further application fee.

Before making a reinstatement application, you should get urgent legal advice.

How do I enforce the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal orders, if they have not been complied with?

If your neighbour has not complied with the orders made by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), you may have options to enforce it, depending on the type of orders that were made.

Orders to take action

If NCAT had made an order that the other party do certain things, such as arrange for a new fence to be built by a certain date and this has not been done by the time specified in the orders, you can ask NCAT to renew the case. This means that the case goes back for further hearing at NCAT.

NCAT could then make new orders. You can ask for your case to be renewed by the time specified in the orders. If no time has been specified, then you can make the application within 12 months of the date the work was meant to be completed. There is a fee to renew the proceedings.

For more information, see Enforce a work order on the NCAT website. 

Orders to pay money

If NCAT has made an order that the other party pay you a specific amount of money, and they have not paid the amount as ordered, it is possible to try and recover the money you are owed by taking enforcement action in the Local Court of NSW.

You will need to get a certificate from NCAT certifying the amount the other party has been ordered to pay you. Once you have the certified money order from NCAT, you can register it with the Local Court of NSW and it will have the same effect as a judgment of the Local Court of NSW.

The time limit to register the NCAT order is 6 years from the date of the order. Once registered, you have 12 years from the date of registration to enforce it as a judgment debt.

For more information, see After the NCAT decision in After the decision on the My problem is about section of our website.

I have been told that there is a federal jurisdiction problem in my application. What is a federal jurisdiction problem?

A federal jurisdiction problem is when the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) does not have power to decide your matter. For example, this may be when an NCAT application:

• involves residents of different States
  
• involves the Commonwealth or Commonwealth laws.
  

If there is a federal jurisdiction problem, NCAT will give you a letter explaining that you can apply to the Local Court of NSW.

For more information, see Federal jurisdiction on the NCAT website.

If you are not sure what this means for your matter, you should get legal advice.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal could not hear my matter because of a federal jurisdiction problem. How do I apply to the Local Court of NSW?

To apply to the Local Court of NSW you will need to file:

• Summons seeking leave
• Affidavit in support (of summons seeking leave)
  
• a copy of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) application
• a copy of the letter from NCAT.
  

There is no filing fee, unless you have made a lot of changes to your original application.

For a copy of a Summons and an Affidavit form, see Sample forms for Federal Proceedings (from NCAT) on the Local Court of NSW website.

If you need help applying to the Local Court of NSW, you should get legal advice.

What happens if my ​​neighbour doesn't attend the hearing?

If your neighbour doesn't attend a hearing for an application for a fencing order, the court or tribunal may decide to hear the matter without them being involved.

If your case is being decided by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, you can't apply for costs. If your case is heard in the Local Court of NSW, you may be able to claim your legal costs, if you were represented by a lawyer. You should speak to your lawyer about this.

What can I do if I am unhappy with the decision made by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal?

If you are unhappy with the decision made by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), you may be able to:

• apply for the order to be set aside or varied (changed) if you were absent, for example, if you missed the hearing date because you were in hospital, or if you didn't receive the notice telling you when you had to attend. You have seven days from the date of the decision to make this type of application, although the tribunal may grant an extension on this time limit in certain circumstances. You also need to pay a fee to make this type of application.
• apply for an internal appeal to the NCAT Appeal Panel. You can seek leave (permission) to do this. An appeal may be an option if you have suffered a substantial miscarriage of justice because the decision was not fair or equitable, or the decision was against the weight of evidence, or new evidence has arisen that couldn't reasonably be put to the tribunal at the time of the hearing. You have 28 days from the date you were notified of the decision or you were given reasons for the decision, orally or verbally (whichever is later), to apply for an internal appeal.

If you are unhappy with a decision of the NCAT Appeal Panel, you may seek leave (permission) to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of NSW on a point of law. You have 28 days to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of NSW.

Before filing an internal appeal to NCAT or before appealing to the Supreme Court of NSW, you should get legal advice.

What can I do if I am unhappy with the decision made by the Local Court of NSW?

If you are unhappy with the decision made by the Local Court of NSW, you may be able to:

• make an annulment application, if any orders were made in your absence. This might be an option if you didn't receive notice of your hearing, or if you were involved in an accident and couldn't reasonably attend the court date. An annulment application must be made within two years of when the order was made. If your annulment application is granted, the order will be set aside and there will be a new hearing.
• appeal the decision, if an order was made and you are not happy with it. You have 28 days from the date the order to appeal.
  

If you want to appeal a decision of the Local Court of NSW, you should get legal advice.

How can I respond to ​​a fencing notice?

If your neighbour has given you a fencing notice it means that they want work done on the fence between your properties, for example, a new fence or repairs to an existing fence. You should read the fencing notice carefully as it should outline:

• the proposed position of the fence (usually the boundary line)
  
• the proposed type of fence or repairs needed, and
• the estimated cost and the proposed contribution of each owner (you could request a quote if it is not attached).
  

You have a number of options when responding to a fencing notice:

• you can arrange your own quote
  
• you can negotiate with your neighbour, for example, about the type or position of the fence
  
• you can try mediation, if you need help negotiating with your neighbour
• If you don’t talk to your neighbour or can’t come to an agreement with them about the fencing work needed, after one month, either you or your neighbour may apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or the Local Court of NSW for a fencing order.

For more information, see What if we can't agree on the My problem is about section of our website.

Is my neighbour required ​to supply me with more than one quote for fencing work?

There is no requirement that your neighbour give you more than one quote for fencin​g​ work.

If your neighbour sends you a fencing notice, they may attach a quote for the work they want done. If no quote is attached, you could request one. If you don't agree with the costs in the quote, you can talk to your neighbour about getting another quote or arrange your own quote.

What can I do if my neighbour is going to replace the fence without a fencing order or my agreement?

If your neighbour is going to carry out fencing work, you should:

• tell your neighbour in writing that you don't agree with the proposed fencing work and that you don't give permission for access to your land
  
• take a photo of the existing fence. This may be useful later to demonstrate that the existing fence was a sufficient dividing fence and that urgent fencing work was not needed.

The only way that you can stop the fencing work is to apply to the Supreme Court of NSW for an injunction. This is very expensive and difficult legal process. You should get legal advice before you consider doing this.

If your neighbour goes ahead with fencing work without your agreement or without an order from the Local Court of NSW or the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, they generally will not be able to recover a contribution to the cost of fencing work unless urgent fencing work was necessary.

If your neighbour enters your property without permission, or damages your property, you should get legal advice.

What if I don’t want a fence at all?

Even if you don’t want a fence, your neighbour may be able to make an application to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or the Local Court of NSW for a fence to be built and for you to contribute to it. 

If your neighbour builds a fence that you do not want, without a Fencing Order, you may not have to contribute to the cost of the fence. However, you may not have any legal option to get rid of the fence.  

Fencing Orders can only be made where there is no sufficient fence. If NCAT or the Local Court of NSW considers that fence to be sufficient, they can’t make any order to change the fence.

Whether you have other legal options will depend on your specific circumstances. If your neighbour has built a fence you do not want, you should get legal advice.

My neighbour is building a new home and he wants to put in a new fence. Am I required to contribute?

If your neighbour wants to build a new dividing fence, or replace an existing dividing fence, they can serve you with a fencing notice and ask you to pay a contribution. 

If the existing fence is sufficient but your neighbour wants a fence that is of a higher standard, they are responsible to pay for the difference in the cost.

How do I work out where the boundary line is?

There is a process that you and your neighbour must follow to determine a boundary line when fencing work is needed.

If you want to do fencing work but you are not sure where your boundary line is, you can start by serving your neighbour with a boundary notice. A boundary notice is a written document that tells your neighbour you want to work out where the boundary line is. There is no set form for this notice.

After you serve your neighbour with a boundary notice, your neighbour has seven days to mark out where they think the boundary line is. Your neighbour can do this with pegs, or by hiring a registered surveyor. Your neighbour must tell you in writing what they are going to do in response to your boundary notice.

If your neighbour pegs what they think is the boundary line and doesn't arrange a registered surveyor, you can arrange your own registered surveyor to determine the boundary line within one month after giving your written notice.

For more information, see Boundaries on the My problem is about section of our website.

Who has to pay for the costs of a survey to determine the boundary line for fencing work?

The costs of determining a boundary line, including any costs of a surveyor will usually be shared equally between you and your neighbour. However, if your neighbour pegs out the boundary line in response to your boundary notice, and a registered surveyor confirms your neighbour's markings are correct, your neighbour can claim any costs they have incurred from you.

If your neighbour refuses to share the cost of a survey with you, you should get legal advice.

What ​​are my options if I get a boundary notice from my neighbour?

If your neighbour wants to do fencing work but is not sure of the position of the boundary line, they will need to follow a specific process. They must serve you with a written notice stating that they want to work out where the boundary line is.

When you get this notice, you have seven days to:

• mark out where you think the boundary line is with pegs, or
• arrange for your own registered surveyor to define the boundary line.

If you mark out where you think the boundary line is with pegs or you do nothing for one month after receiving the notice, your neighbour may go ahead and arrange a registered surveyor to survey the boundary line.

If the surveyor defines the boundary line as being in the same position as where you marked out your pegs, you can recover any costs you have incurred from your neighbour.

If, however, the surveyor defines the boundary line as a different position to where you marked out your pegs then you must share the reasonable costs of the survey equally with your neighbour.

What if I don't ​​respond to the boundary notice?

If you don't respond to the notice your neighbour has given you and they get the boundary line defined by a registered surveyor, they can ask you to share the costs of the survey with them.

Once it is clear where the boundary is, your neighbour might serve you with a notice to arrange fencing work between your properties.

What if the existing​​​​ fence is not on the boundary?

If a survey shows that the fence has not been built on the boundary line and you have lost land because of this, you can negotiate with your neighbour to move the dividing fence.

You might also be able to recover compensation, but you should get legal advice about this.

You can:

• negotiate with your neighbour about getting the fence moved and any compensation
• try mediation
  
• serve a fencing notice on your neighbour outlining the work that needs to be done to move the fence to the correct boundary line. You should also attach any quotes for the work. If you and your neighbour can't come to an agreement, you will need to wait one month after serving the fencing notice before applying to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or the Local Court of NSW for a fencing order. NCAT or the Local Court of NSW can decide the boundary on which fencing work is to be carried out and can also order compensation for use of that land, if appropriate.

What is the​​ difference between a retaining wall and a dividing fence?

A retaining wall and a dividing fence have different functions.

A dividing fence is generally a structure that:

• encloses or bounds land
  
• marks out the limitations of the land, and
• is a means of separating the land between adjoining owners.

A retaining wall is commonly located between properties with different ground levels, and:

• provides structural support for the higher property
  
• maintains the surface of the higher property at its present level
  
• forms an integral part of the higher property, and
• prevents movement of land between the higher and lower properties.
  

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or the Local Court of NSW can make orders about fencing work. NCAT will not hear any matters about retaining walls unless there is supporting evidence that the wall is necessary for the support and maintenance of a dividing fence. You will need supporting evidence from a structural engineer.

Before starting a matter at the Local Court of NSW or NCAT, you should also get legal advice.

What are my options if I ​​​need work done to a retaining wall on the boundary line?

Your options for arranging work to a retaining wall between you and your neighbour's property will depend on whether the retaining wall is necessary for the support and maintenance of the dividing fence. You will need supporting evidence from a structural engineer. If the work relates to the support and maintenance of a dividing fence, you can follow the procedure ​set out in the Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW).

If the retaining wall doesn't support or maintain the dividing fence, the Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW) doesn't apply. You can:

• talk to your neighbour about the work needed and negotiate how the costs of the work are to be paid
• try mediation, if there is a dispute
• get legal advice about applying to the Supreme Court of NSW for an order, if you can't agree, however this may be complex and costly.
  

Before carrying out work to a retaining well, you should also speak to your Local Council to find out whether you need to apply for a Development Application (DA).

For more information, see Retaining walls on the My problem is about section of our website.

How do I know if the retaining wall ​​is needed to support or maintain the fence?

You should get advice from a structural engineer to find out if the retaining wall is needed to support or maintain the dividing fence.

If you are unsure if the retaining wall supports the dividing fence, you should also get legal advice about your situation.

Who has to pay ​for work to a retaining wall on the boundary line?

If the retaining wall supports and maintains the dividing fence, you can ask for a share of the cost of the fencing work and retaining wall from your neighbour. Under the Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW) adjoining owners will generally share the cost of any work needed to the retaining wall if the wall is necessary to support and maintain the dividing fence.

For more information, see Retaining walls on the My problem is about section of the website.

If the retaining wall does not support or maintain the dividing fence, you should get legal advice about your situation. Retaining wall issues are complex. Disputes about retaining walls are heard in the Supreme Court of NSW.

How can I get access to my neighbour's property?

If you need to go on to your neighbour's property to do fencing work, to undertake work on your home or utilities, for example, a sewer line, you can't do this without their consent.

If your neighbour will not give you consent, you can get permission to enter your neighbour's land by applying:

• for a NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or Local Court of NSW order for fencing work, if you need to enter their land to do fencing work. Once you have an order, you can enter their land for the purpose of doing the work.
  
• to the Local Court of NSW for an access order (for example neighbouring land access order or utility service access order) under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 2000 (NSW).
  

How do I apply for an access order?

Before you apply for an access order, you must give at least 21 days notice of your intention to lodge an application for an order to:

• the owner of the neighbouring land
• anyone else using the utility, if you are applying for access to work on a utility, and
• anyone else you believe will be affected by the order.

The notice should set out the terms of the access order you are seeking.

To apply for the access order, you will need to file an Application Notice to the Local Court – General and pay a filing fee. To get a copy of the form, see Forms on the Local Court of NSW website.

The Local Court of NSW will consider:

• whether the work could be carried out without the access order or whether it would be substantially more difficult or expensive to carry out
• whether the access would cause unreasonable hardship to a person affected by the order.

For more information, see the factsheet Access to neighbouring land on the NSW Land Registry Services website.

Before applying for an access order, you should try to reach an agreement with your neighbour. The Court will not make an order unless you have made a reasonable effort to settle the dispute.