What should your fence cost?

A ballpark from published Canberra prices, and what your share is if the fence is on a boundary you share with a neighbour.

1What kind of fence?

2How long is it?

Pace it out: one long stride is about a metre. A typical Canberra back fence is 15–20 m.

Length (m)

3Any gates?

Single gates0

Double or driveway gates0

4Anything else?

There's an old fence to take down firstThe ground slopes along the fence lineIt's on a boundary I share with a neighbour

Standing by

$— – $—

ACT rules

Sharing a fence with a neighbour

Under the ACT Common Boundaries Act 1981, neighbours share the cost of a dividing fence equally, unless circumstances make it fair for one to pay more.
Where there's no fence yet, either neighbour can ask to pay no more than half of a basic fence: 1.5 m timber paling on concrete posts. Whoever wants something fancier may end up paying the difference.
Talk to your neighbour first and agree on the type, height and price, ideally in writing.
If you can't agree, you can ask ACAT to decide, but only after giving your neighbour written notice and waiting 30 days. If a fence had to be fixed urgently (for safety, or to keep animals in), the wait is 14 days.

From Common Boundaries Act 1981 (ACT) (checked 17 Oct 2026). A guide, not legal advice: check the source before you rely on it.