Privacy screens

A privacy screen is a:

• structure that blocks views between the window of a habitable room or an outdoor area on a lot and an adjoining lot, where:
  • no individual opening is wider than 30 mm
  • the total area of all openings is no more than 30% of the screen/barrier surface area
• fixed window made entirely of translucent glass.

To qualify as exempt development, a privacy screen must:

• be no higher than 2.5 m above the existing ground level (if built on the ground)
• be no longer than 5 m
• be at least 900 mm from any lot boundary
• not be attached to a boundary fence
• not be attached to a retaining wall
• not be located on foreshore land.

For more information, read Understanding exempt development (PDF, 272 KB).

For a full list of development standards for exempt privacy screens, refer to the provisions in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development) 2008.