Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Fencing Act 1978

Schedule 2: Specimen types of fence

You could also call this:

"Types of Fences and How to Build Them"

Illustration for Fencing Act 1978

The Fencing Act 1978 has rules about different types of fences. You can build a post and rail fence, a close boarded fence, or a paling fence. These fences have rules about how high they must be and how they are built. You can also build a panel fence or a masonry wall. A panel fence has posts and rails with infil panels, while a masonry wall is made of brickwork, blockwork, or stonework. There are also rules about wire fences, like 7 or 8 wire fences and 9 or 10 wire fences. These wire fences have rules about the type of wire, the spacing of the posts, and the height of the fence. You can also build a prefabricated fence or a live fence, which have their own set of rules. The rules for these fences are outlined in the Fencing Act 1978, which is empowered by s 10(2)(b).

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM21894.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Topics:
Housing and property > Home safety and repairsHousing and property > Land use
Previous

Schedule 1: Forms, or

"Forms to Help You Build a Fence with Your Neighbour"

Next

Schedule 3: Enactments repealed, or

"Laws cancelled by the Fencing Act 1978"

2Specimen types of fence Empowered by s 10(2)(b)

  • Post and rail fence: A post and rail fence, at least 1 m in height, of substantial material, firmly erected, with not less than 4 rails, the space between the 2 bottom rails, and the bottom rail and the ground, not to exceed 125 mm, and the posts to be not more than 2.75 m apart.
    1. Close boarded fence: A close boarded fence at least 1.5 m in height with posts and 2 rails, and having split or sawn timber placed upright, and well nailed to both rails, there being no openings between upright pieces of timber.
      1. Paling fence: Any paling fence, at least 1 m in height, with posts and 2 rails, and having split or sawn timber placed upright, and well nailed to both rails, there being not more than 100 mm of opening between upright pieces of timber.
        1. Panel fence: A panel fence at least 1 m in height with posts spaced not more than 2.7 m apart and having 2 or more rails with asbestos cement infil panels securely screwed to the rails.
          1. Masonry walls: Walls of brickwork, blockwork, or stonework adequately supported.

            1. 7 or 8 wire fence: A substantial wire fence, having 7 or 8 wires properly strained, with up to 2 of these wires as galvanised barbed wire, or with 1 galvanised barbed wire and a top rail; barbed wires to be placed in a position agreed upon by the persons interested, or to be omitted if those persons agree; the posts to be of durable timber, metal, or reinforced concrete, and not more than 5 m apart, and securely rammed and, in hollows or where subject to lifting through the strain of the wire, to be securely footed, or stayed with wire; the battens (droppers) to be affixed to the wires and of durable timber, metal or plastic, evenly spaced, and not fewer than 3 between posts; the wires to be galvanised and of 2.5 mm high tensile steel or 4 mm steel or its equivalent; the bottom wire to be not more than 125 mm from the ground, the next 3 wires to be not more than 125 mm apart; and the top wire or rail to be not less than 1 m from the ground.
              1. 9 or 10 wire fence: A substantial wire fence having 9 or 10 wires properly strained, with or without battens (droppers) or lacing affixed to the wires between the posts or standards; the posts or standards to be of durable timber, metal, or reinforced concrete, well and substantially erected, and not more than 5 m apart, the top wire not to be less than 1 m from the ground surface, the wires to be galvanised, and of 2.5 mm high tensile steel or 4 mm steel, or its equivalent, the space between the ground and the bottom wire not to exceed 100 mm, the 4 bottom wires to be not more than 130 mm apart.
                1. Prefabricated (netting) fence: A substantial wire netting fence properly strained of a minimum height of 1 m; the netting to have at least 7 horizontal wires, and, if necessary, extra wires above or below the netting, one of which may be a galvanised barb wire, all other wires to be galvanised in either 2.5 mm high tensile steel or 4 mm steel, or its equivalent; the vertical stays of the netting to be galvanised wire, and not more than 305 mm apart; posts or standards to be not more than 5 m apart, and of durable timber, metal, or reinforced concrete; additional battens (droppers) may be installed between the posts if both parties agree; the overall fence to be well and substantially erected.
                  1. Live fence: A close and sufficient live fence.

                      1.