Is is legal to put a short (a foot tall or less) fence around the planter strip between sidewalk and street?

Question

all planter strips in our development get watered except mine. The lines were cut during construction of other driveways. They put mulch in them, but kids spread it all over with their bikes. I sweep it up, it is spread all over again next day. I would like to put some nice plants in there with mulch around them, but I would have to fence it to keep bikes out of it. Can I get away with a 6" or so decorative fence around the planter strip?

Answer 1

I wanted to decorate my nature strip with native plants.. Although I havent asked council another woman I know did decorate her nature strip. She did ask council and they said, as long as it was back to normal when they moved out or sold the house it would be fine!!

SO i say, go for it !!!  It would look better than what council keeps the nature strips I rekon anyway.

Goodluck.

Answer 2

I built a 3 brick high wall on my side of a council foot path (yes, on my own property) and the council made me take it down because it wasn't approved, this "wall" was not retaining any thing other than a layer of mulch from spreading over their path!!  I had only half done the wall so I rang up and asked the general question for my area, I put in the approval and kept building until it was approved!!  You just never know with councils and their stupid laws, so ring and check first!

Answer 3

I dont think it's legal - Im pretty sure its council owned

Answer 4

Don't know.  You may have to look at the recorded map of your subdivision and see what your rights are.  The planter may be your property, or it is possibly within the government right of way.  

Sometimes if you are on a corner, there are sight visability height restrictions in those planter areas.

You'll have to find your recorded develelopment map, get a magnifying glass, and take a look at all of the notes near your property.  Good luck.

Answer 5

I don't know anything about what is legal or not, but I know your frustration! As long as it isn't blocking a driveway or there is a firehydrant, I would decorate it. You can go to walmart garden center or where ever their garden 'stuff' isle is, and there is cheap plastic and wire border fencing you can get, for only a few bucks. Get a few of those, a 6 or 12 pack of petunias or other pretty but cheap flower, maybe even a little bag of good soil.  One night or early morning, when the kids are still inside and the neighborhood is quiet, go out there with a hand rake and spade, and purty up the little patch of land ! (sometimes it's called a 'swale').  If anybody has a problem with it, what is going to happen?City workers take it down? You get a warning? You get to purty up the place and you are only out a few bucks, so I say go for it!

Answer 6

You would have to check with your local council to see if this is ok, sometimes they like a planting sometimes not, depends on the council.

I don't think  they would approve a fence as this is public space and it would cause an obstruction and could cause pedestrian dangers.

From your own point of view I wouldn't as it could leave you open to public liability claims true and false, even if you have insurance you may find they won't cover you outside your property, and you won't be covered at all if you do anything considered illegal (against Council instructions).

Mulch is only a short term fix for weeds etc, plant a ground cover that can take being walked on occasionally.  Don't get too carried away, shrubs etc look terrible in mass kerbside plantings and can make your house look too different from neighbouring homes and reduce the value of your property.

I've seen some terrible native plantings in my area, beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder.