Balconies and terraces can be an ideal place for apartment residents to start a garden and bring more greenery into their home. Before choosing plants and pots, consider your body corporate rules, the balcony’s structure, water run-off, wind and the effect on neighbours.
Planning can help you create a garden that is easier to maintain while avoiding property damage or nuisance problems. These balcony garden ideas cover the main issues to consider.
What should you consider when creating a balcony garden?
Start by checking what you can and cannot do on your balcony. Your balcony may be part of your lot, common property or an area provided for your use under an exclusive use arrangement. The registered survey plan and community management statement can help clarify the boundaries and the rules that apply.
The Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997, known as the BCCM Act, provides the framework for community titles schemes in Queensland. By-laws can control and manage common property, body corporate assets, services and facilities, and the use of lots.
Before buying plants or installing screening, review your scheme’s by-laws. You may find restrictions affecting:
- the types of plants that can be used
- the height or appearance of plants
- planter boxes or other structures
- watering arrangements
- anything attached to the building or balcony.
If you are unsure which by-laws apply, obtain a copy of your community management statement and check the records held for your scheme. For schemes with a registered CMS, the by-laws are recorded in that document. If your scheme has changed its by-laws, the body corporate must register a new CMS with Titles Queensland.
You can also read our guide to by-laws explained for more information.
Are balcony gardens allowed under body corporate by-laws?
Whether a balcony garden is allowed depends on the by-laws that apply to your scheme, along with general requirements about safety, maintenance and nuisance.
A body corporate can make or change by-laws about the use of lots, but those by-laws must comply with the BCCM Act and cannot be unreasonable. Recording a by-law with Titles Queensland does not automatically make it valid. A recorded by-law continues to apply unless and until an adjudicator decides that it is invalid.
Consider any rule about balcony plants in the context of the actual wording of your scheme’s by-laws. A practical suggestion in a gardening guide does not have the same force as an enforceable by-law requirement.
If your body corporate is considering a new rule, the change generally requires a special resolution at a general meeting. The body corporate must then register the new community management statement with Titles Queensland within 3 months of the motion being passed. The by-law starts when the registrar records the new CMS, unless it sets a later date.
Clear rules can help owners understand the limits of outdoor areas and reduce avoidable disputes between neighbours. If you are planning a garden, ask the committee or body corporate manager before making changes that may affect the building, common property or other residents.
How can you manage balcony garden weight and structural risks?
Pots, potting mix, water, plant stands and screening all add weight. Consider your balcony’s structural load capacity before bringing materials into the space.
Choose lightweight pots where suitable. They are easier to move and may place less load on the balcony than heavier alternatives. However, lightweight materials do not automatically make an arrangement safe. If you plan to use several large pots, raised stands, hanging baskets or screening, check the building information and obtain qualified advice where necessary.
Keep pots stable and position them carefully. A balcony garden should not obstruct access, create a falling-object risk or interfere with building elements. Avoid attaching anything to the balcony unless you have confirmed that it is permitted.
Maintenance responsibilities also depend on the boundaries of your lot and common property. A body corporate must maintain common property in a good and structurally sound condition, while a lot owner must maintain their lot in good condition. An owner may be liable if poor maintenance of the lot causes damage to another lot or common property.
Our guide to apartment balconies, issues and responsibilities for strata residents provides further information about balcony-related responsibilities.
How can you prevent water from balcony plants causing problems?
Water from pots can damage balcony floors, affect neighbouring lots or create maintenance concerns. Plan how water will drain before placing plants on the balcony.
Useful steps include:
- choosing pots with drainage holes
- using saucers or trays to catch run-off
- raising pots on suitable pot feet
- emptying trays regularly
- checking where water goes after watering
- avoiding overflow from self-watering pots
- inspecting the balcony and nearby areas for dampness or staining.
Do not allow potting mix, roots or debris to block drainage points. If water is escaping onto common property or another lot, stop and review the arrangement before the problem becomes more serious.
Irrigation systems, hoses and other watering equipment may also require permission or may be unsuitable for your balcony. Check the by-laws and any installation constraints before using them. An irrigation system cannot be installed simply because it would make watering easier.
If you notice water damage or a possible leak, record what you have observed and notify the appropriate body corporate contact. You can also read managing water leaks in a strata property for practical guidance.
Which plants and pots suit a windy apartment balcony?
Wind can restrict your plant choices and affect how safely pots and other items can be used. Choose plants that can be pruned and shaped so their size remains manageable. Plants with large leaves may be more likely to shred in strong wind.
Use stable pots and avoid arrangements that can blow over or fall from the balcony. Hanging baskets, screening and wind breaks can create additional risks and may need approval under your scheme’s by-laws. Check before installing anything fixed, oversized or visible from outside the building.
Long-lived, low-care plants can be useful where regular maintenance is difficult. Choose options that suit the amount of sunlight, shade and wind on your particular balcony rather than selecting plants based only on appearance.
Keep the garden manageable. A smaller number of healthy plants is usually easier to water, prune, move and inspect than a crowded collection of pots.
How can you avoid nuisance, pests and problems for neighbours?
Balcony plants can attract or acquire pests, even when they are above ground. Inspect new plants before bringing them home and check your garden regularly. Proportionate, low-risk pest management can help prevent a small problem from spreading.
Also consider odours, allergies, falling leaves, excess water and the appearance of the garden from neighbouring lots. Residents must not use a lot or common property in a way that causes a nuisance or hazard, or unreasonably interferes with another person’s use or enjoyment of a lot or common property.
If a problem develops, speak with the neighbour first and preferably communicate in writing. The Queensland Government recommends trying to resolve a nuisance or hazard directly before taking other dispute resolution steps.
A balcony garden should be safe, contained, easy to maintain and considerate of the people around you. If you are unsure whether your plans comply with your scheme’s rules, contact our team at reception@stratacare.com.au.
