Few things test neighbourly goodwill like a new dividing fence. The money conversation is awkward enough, but then comes the question nobody thinks about until the posts are in: who gets the good side of the fence? One face is clean and finished; the other shows the rails and framework holding it all up. Here is what Queensland law really says about it (spoiler: almost nothing), how the decision usually gets made, and how to choose a fence where the question never comes up at all.
The quick answer
Queensland’s dividing fence law does not say who gets the good side: the Act is silent on which way a fence faces.
By long-standing convention, front fences face the good side to the street, and courtesy usually decides the rest.
On a shared boundary fence it comes down to agreement between the owners: settle it in writing before the fence goes up.
Double-sided aluminium slat and blade fencing looks identical from both sides, so there is no bad side to argue over.
First, what counts as the “good side” of a fence?
On a traditional timber paling fence, all the structure (the posts and horizontal rails) sits on one face, and the palings are nailed to the other. Stand on the paling side and you see a clean, uniform surface: the good side. Stand on the other and you see the skeleton: rails, post faces and nail heads. Same fence, two very different views.
The argument exists because a paling fence can only give one household the finished face. Steel sheet fencing narrowed the gap, since the profile reads much the same from either direction, and modern double-sided designs remove it entirely: more on that shortly. But with timber, somebody ends up looking at the frame, and that is where the friction starts.
What Queensland law actually says about the good side
Dividing fences in Queensland are governed by the Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011. The Act covers plenty: what makes a “sufficient dividing fence”, the rule that adjoining owners generally contribute equally to the cost, the formal notice process before work starts, and how QCAT resolves disputes when owners cannot agree.
What it does not cover, anywhere, is orientation. The Act is completely silent on which way a fence should face, and the Queensland Government’s fence owner responsibility guidance does not touch it either. Neither neighbour has a legal right to demand the smooth face, and no tribunal order will hand it to you. Who gets the good side is not a legal question in Queensland at all: it is an etiquette question.
That surprises people, because the money side is tightly regulated. If you are splitting costs, our guide to the Queensland notice to contribute process walks through the quotes, notices and response windows step by step. The paperwork sorts out who pays: it just will not sort out who looks at the rails.
So how do neighbours actually decide?
With no rule to lean on, the decision comes down to agreement: and a few unwritten conventions fill the vacuum:
Front fences face the street. Almost universally, the finished side of a street-facing fence points outward for kerb appeal. Few people fight this one.
Whoever pays tends to choose. If one owner funds the whole fence (especially one built entirely on their own land) the other neighbour usually accepts their pick.
The “good neighbour” gesture. Plenty of owners follow the old courtesy of facing the smooth side toward the neighbour and keeping the rails on their own side. It costs nothing and buys years of goodwill.
Alternate the panels. Some timber fences swap the paling side panel by panel, or use a double-paling “shadowbox” pattern, so both faces look presentable: at extra material cost.
Notice that two of those conventions point in opposite directions: which is exactly why the argument is so common. The fix is boring but effective: agree on the facing in writing before anyone orders materials, in the same conversation where you settle the height, style and cost split. If you are formalising contributions, note the orientation alongside the quotes. And while you are agreeing on the spec, check the Queensland fence height rules so the fence you shake hands on is one you can lawfully build.
The fence with two good sides: double-sided aluminium
The genuinely modern answer to a very old argument is to choose a fence that does not have a bad side. Powder-coated aluminium slat and blade fencing is built double-sided: the slats present the same clean face in both directions, and there is no exposed rail-and-frame side, because the horizontals are part of the finished design rather than a hidden skeleton.
Your neighbour sees exactly what you see: straight, powder-coated slats in Black, Monument or White. And beyond ending the orientation debate, aluminium will not rust, rot, warp or feed termites, and it never needs oiling or repainting; an occasional hose-down does it. Over the life of the fence those savings add up: our aluminium vs timber fence cost comparison runs the long-term numbers side by side.
FY Fencing Supplies stocks powder-coated aluminium fence panels, gates and hardware in Brisbane and delivers across South East Queensland: check our service areas. Panels bolt together with basic tools, so a straight boundary run is a realistic DIY weekend project, or we can arrange professional installation. Browse current panels and prices in the online shop.
Frequently asked questions
Who gets the good side of the fence in Queensland?
No law decides it. The Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011 says nothing about which way a dividing fence faces, so it comes down to agreement between the owners. Convention puts the good side of a front fence to the street, and courtesy (or whoever is paying) usually settles the rest.
Does whoever pays for the fence get to choose the side?
In practice, usually. If one owner pays the full cost, particularly for a fence on their own land, the other neighbour generally accepts their choice. On a standard half-each dividing fence both owners have an equal say, so agree on the facing in writing before work starts: ideally alongside the notice to contribute paperwork.
Can I force my neighbour to give me the smooth side?
No. Because the Act is silent on orientation, neither owner has a legal right to the finished face. QCAT resolves disputes about contributions and what a sufficient fence is, not which way the palings point. Negotiation is the only tool: or a double-sided fence that makes the question irrelevant.
What is a good neighbour fence?
A fence designed to look the same from both sides. In timber that means a double-paling “shadowbox” pattern built at extra cost; in aluminium it is simply how the product works: slat and blade panels are powder-coated and finished identically on both faces, so both households get the good side.
Do aluminium slat fences have a bad side?
No. The slats are powder-coated on every face and there is no separate rail-and-frame side, so the panel looks the same whichever yard you stand in. That is a big part of why aluminium has become such a popular choice for shared boundaries in South East Queensland.
This article is general information only, not legal advice. Laws and council requirements change: check the current guidance on qld.gov.au and the Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011, and get advice for your own situation.
Working out what your fence line needs? Tell us the run and the height and we will quote it, supply-only or installed.
- Brisbane-based supplier
- Aluminium fencing & gates
- Supply or installed