A plain English explanation of this ACT planning and property term.
Privacy, overlooking and screening are planning and urban design principles that require residential development to safeguard visual privacy by limiting direct views into neighbouring dwellings and private open spaces through appropriate building orientation, separation distances, landscaping, and architectural screening, while maintaining outlook, natural ventilation, daylight, and passive surveillance.
Privacy assessment considers direct views from windows, balconies, decks and stairs into neighbouring habitable rooms and private open space. Setbacks, orientation, high sills, obscure glazing and permanent screens can reduce overlooking, but screening should not unnecessarily destroy daylight and outlook.