How high can my fence or screen wall be?
It depends on the height and the distance from the boundary — a fence or screen wall up to 1.8 m can go up without a permit, but not just anywhere. Under section 2.3.5 of Building Regulation no. 112/2012 (text in force 2026) a fence or screen wall up to 1.8 m high is exempt from a permit if it stands no closer to the boundary than 1.8 m. If it is nearer than that, it may only be as high as its distance from the boundary — 1 m from the boundary means at most 1 m high. The myth many believe: that you can put a 1.8 m wall right on the boundary at will. Wrong — on the boundary itself you need a signed agreement from both lot owners, filed with the building official. A wall attached to the house may be up to 2.0 m long and 2.5 m high if it stands at least 1.8 m from the boundary. Height is measured from the higher lot where there is a level difference, and the rule always yields to the local plan.
📋 The rules
- A fence or screen wall up to 1.8 m high is exempt from a building permit if it stands no closer to the boundary than 1.8 m — section 2.3.5 of Building Regulation no. 112/2012 (2026).
- If the wall is closer than 1.8 m to the boundary it may only be as high as its distance from the boundary: 1 m from the boundary = at most 1 m high.
- On the boundary itself, both lot owners may put up a wall up to 1.8 m without a permit, but only under a signed agreement filed with the building official.
- A screen wall attached to the house may be up to 2.0 m long and 2.5 m high if it stands at least 1.8 m from the boundary.
- Where the lots are at different levels the height is measured from the higher lot, and the rule always yields to the provisions of the local plan.
🔓 Exceptions
- If the wall is higher than 1.8 m a building permit is required regardless of distance from the boundary, and structural and safety requirements then come into play.
- On the boundary itself, height alone is not enough — without the neighbour's signed agreement the wall is unlawful even if it is under 1.8 m.
- The local plan can set stricter limits (e.g. a lower maximum height along the street); the plan then governs and the regulation limits give way.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A fence or screen wall that is too high, too close to the boundary or on the boundary without consent is an unpermitted structure. The building official can require it to be lowered, moved or removed at the owner's cost and impose daily fines under the Structures Act no. 160/2010 until it is put right. The hidden cost usually lies in the neighbour dispute itself: a wall built on the boundary without a signed agreement may have to go even long after it went up, and both materials and labour are lost. If a dispute arises the matter can be referred to the environmental and natural-resources appeals board, which can strike the work down. On top of that, a fence that blocks a view, light or road safety along the street can prompt a demand to lower it from the municipality. The neighbour's consent is therefore not a formality but the precondition for the wall to stand — and it is cheaper to obtain it in advance than to demolish afterwards.
📎 Official sources
- Althingi · Structures Act no. 160/2010 (consolidated) →
- HMS · Building Regulation no. 112/2012 (section 2.3.5) →
- City of Reykjavik · guidance on walls, fences and vegetation →
❓ Frequently asked
How high can a screen wall be without a building permit?
A fence or screen wall can be up to 1.8 metres high without a building permit, provided it stands no closer to the boundary than 1.8 metres, under section 2.3.5 of Building Regulation no. 112/2012. If it stands nearer the boundary the permitted height drops accordingly, because it may then be no higher than its distance from the boundary.
Can I build a wall right on the boundary line?
Yes, but only with a signed agreement with the adjoining lot owner filed with the building official, and the wall may then be up to 1.8 metres. Without such an agreement a wall on the boundary is unlawful even if it is lower than 1.8 metres, and the neighbour can demand that it be removed.
How is the height of a wall measured on sloping lots?
Where there is a level difference between the lots at the boundary, the height of the wall is measured from the surface of the higher lot, not the lower one. This matters because the same wall can measure as legal from one side but too high from the other, and the local plan can also set a lower maximum height than the regulation.
Do I need a permit for a wall attached to the house?
A screen wall attached to the house may be up to 2.0 metres long and 2.5 metres high without a permit, as long as it stands at least 1.8 metres from the boundary. If it is longer, higher or closer to the boundary than that, it falls outside the exemption and becomes subject to a building permit.
What happens if my neighbour builds too high a wall on the boundary?
You can raise the matter with the building official, who can require the wall to be lowered, moved or removed and impose daily fines if it is not. If the wall was built on the boundary without your consent it is unlawful, and the dispute can be referred to the environmental and natural-resources appeals board.
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