Question: Do strata by-laws require an owner to seek permission before planting a creeper that will climb an outside wall?
Answer: Before doing anything, the owner must confirm the boundaries of their lot on the strata plan.
In most strata schemes, the key issue is where the owner will plant the creeper and what it will affect.
1. Check whether the wall is common property
Before doing anything, the owner must confirm the boundaries of their lot on the strata plan. In many buildings, external walls are common property, even if they form part of the boundary of your lot. If the outside wall is common property, you generally must obtain approval from the strata company (usually via the strata council or a general meeting) before planting anything that will attach to or grow on it.
2. Even if it’s within your lot
If you plant the creeper within your lot boundaries, permission may still be required if it:
- Affects the appearance of the building: Most strata schemes have by-laws regulating the exterior appearance of the building. A creeper climbing an outside wall alters the building’s look, and this typically requires council approval.
- Impacts or damages common property: If the creeper attaches to, penetrates, stains, or otherwise damages common property (such as brickwork, render, waterproofing, or paint), you may be held responsible.
3. Maintenance liability
If you plant a creeper without approval and it causes damage to the building, the strata company may require you to:
- Remove the plant
- Repair the damage
- Pay the costs of rectification
Even if approval is granted, you may be made responsible for ongoing maintenance under a by-law or written agreement.
This post appears in the April 2026 edition of The WA Strata Magazine.
Jamie Horner Empire Estate Agents E: JHorner@empireestateagents.com P: (08) 9262 0400
