Courtyard walls can provide privacy, security and screening.
The Residential Zones Single Dwelling Housing Development Controls specifies controls for courtyard walls for single dwellings. These rules and requirements vary depending on the size of your block.
First, check your block size using the ACTmapi Basic or Territory Plan map then check the rules below. If your courtyard wall follows these controls, it will not need DA approval.
The length of the courtyard wall can't be more than one of the following:
- 50% of the width of your block (see first image below), and
- 70% of the width of your block, if your block at the line of the wall is less than 12m wide (see second image below).
The wall must:
- have minimum setback of 50% of the minimum front setback (see Schedule 1 of the Residential Zones Single Dwelling Housing Development Controls )
- be no more than 1.8m high
- be made of brick, block or stonework. These may be combined with timber or metal panels that include openings not less than 25% of the surface area of the panel and clearly distinguishes itself from a panel or timber fence
- have shrub planting between the wall and the road. The shrub planting must be on your block and not go onto the nature strip or any paths, and
- not obstruct sight lines for vehicles and pedestrians on public paths.
