Fencing in Kallista

Old farm blocks, new boundaries

Kallista's land was opened for sale and selection in 1878 and 1893, and from the 1910s its original 10-acre farm blocks were cut up for weekend and holiday homes. Today it is still a mix of forest, houses and farming, and about 70% of the land is zoned green wedge. So a block can have a house neighbour on one side and a working paddock on the other.

Between two farms, the state's example of a sufficient fence is post and wire. Where a farm meets a house block, the farm standard is the sufficient one, and the neighbours share its cost half each. Anyone who wants more, such as a paling fence on the house side, pays the difference. Farm fencing goes further.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Kallista, Victoria, Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Fences Act 1968 (Vic), authorised version 072 and Victorian Government: fencing in Victoria.

What SLO1 lets through

Every part of Kallista is under SLO1. It requires a planning permit for any fence unless the fence is under 1.8 m and more than 75% see-through. An ordinary post-and-wire paddock fence under that height passes. A taller fence, or a solid one between two house blocks, needs a permit. The village shops are also under DDO14, which gives guidance on fences rather than a permit of its own.

Barbed wire beside a road or public open space is allowed on a block of 2,000 m² or more used mainly for livestock; on a smaller block it must be set back or kept 2 m up.

ESO1 covers a little under half the suburb, and its fence wording is ambiguous: if your property report shows it, ask Yarra Ranges planning.

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Checked 25 October 2026 against Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedules to Clause 42.03 (SLO1–6, SLO22, SLO23), Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedules to Clause 43.02 (DDOs), Building Regulations 2018 (Vic), authorised version 031, Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedules to Clause 42.01 (ESO1, ESO2) and Yarra Ranges Council: building a fence.

Along Sherbrooke Forest

About a quarter of Kallista is park and reserve, Sherbrooke Forest and its lyrebirds among it. Neither unalienated Crown land nor a public park or reserve pays a share under the Fences Act, so a fence on the forest boundary is normally the private owner's cost.

Unlike Sherbrooke and Olinda, Kallista isn't entirely under the Bushfire Management Overlay: about 70% of it is. Where your fence is in a bushfire prone area and was built before 10 September 2009, vegetation can be cleared 4 m wide along it, both sides together, without a planning permit. Clearing a fence line explains the limits.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Kallista, Victoria, Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Fences Act 1968 (Vic), authorised version 072, Victoria Planning Provisions, Clause 52.12 (bushfire protection exemptions) and DELWP: vegetation exemptions for bushfire protection (fact sheet).

Around Kallista

Sherbrooke, Olinda and The Patch

SLO1 again, with the same 1.8 m and 75% test.

Belgrave and Monbulk

The township overlay SLO22, which asks only about front fences. Outside Monbulk's township, the farming overlay SLO5 exempts a rural post and open-weave wire fence under 1.8 m.

Selby and Menzies Creek

Selby is mostly SLO1. Menzies Creek is partly in Cardinia, whose hills overlays have no fence trigger; check its zone schedule for a front fence height.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedules to Clause 42.03 (SLO1–6, SLO22, SLO23), Building Regulations 2018 (Vic), authorised version 031 and Cardinia Planning Scheme, schedules to Clauses 42.01, 42.02, 42.03 and 43.02.