Planning application and process

Planning permits are generally required for any development or change of land use. If you do need a planning permit, it must be obtained before a building permit can be issued or work can begin. If you want to know if a planning permit is required for your proposal, please contact the council offices on 03 5358 8700. 

You can also book an appointment with a planner to discuss your proposal in detail, identify any issues with the proposal and make any required changes before lodging your application. Please call the council offices to arrange.

As well as a planning permit from council, you may also require approval for your proposal under other legislation. Examples include:

• Building Permit - Building permits are required for most works such as a new building, extensions, alterations or change of use of an existing building.
• Liquor Licence - Liquor Licences are required for the sale and/or consumption of alcohol from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.
• Septic Tank Permit - Permits must be obtained from council's health protection unit for septic tanks where sewerage is not available.
• Footpath Trading Permits - Approval is required from council's compliance unit for dining or the display of materials on the footpath.
• Crown Land - Approval is required from the state government for use or development of Crown Land.

These are just some examples of approvals that may be required. You are encouraged to discuss your proposal with the relevant council department and/or external agency early in the process.

If you need a planning permit for your proposal, you will need to lodge a planning application. All planning applications require the following information:

1. Planning permit application

A complete planning permit application form including the property address, proposal, owner’s details, cost of the development and signed declarations.

2.  Certificate of Title

A current copy of the Certificate of Title (produced within the last three months) including the registered search statement, plan of subdivision and any restrictions that apply to the land e.g. covenants or Section 173 agreements. You can request a copy of your current Certificate of Title from www.landata.vic.gov.au.  

3. Plans

One copy of the site, elevation and floor plans. Plans must be to scale (1:100 or 1:200) at A3 size and rotated to landscape orientation. All electronically submitted plans must be sent in PDF format, as individual files or plan sets.  

• Site plans

A site plan is a bird's-eye view which shows your existing and proposed development, and the position to boundaries and neighbouring developments.

It should show all structures on the proposed site, and any other features, such as vegetation, car parks, driveways and crossovers. Information on the length of boundaries and walls, site levels, the distance between existing and proposed buildings and the property's boundaries and adjoining walls should also be provided. The plans should distinguish clearly between the existing structures and features, and those that are being proposed.

A short written summary should be provided, detailing the site coverage, floor area, number of parking spaces, the area proposed for landscaping and any other relevant details.

Example of existing and proposed site plans(PDF, 134KB)

• Floor plans

A floor plan is a bird's-eye view of the existing and proposed structures in your development. It should show the layout of the building, its relationship to existing buildings, the location and dimension of walls, windows and doors, and the use of each room and area within the building.

Example of a floorplan(PDF, 125KB)

• Elevation plans

Elevation plans are side-on views of your proposed development. Elevations of all four sides (north, south, east, west) should accompany your application.

The plans should show:

• details of construction materials
• the height and length of walls
• the dimensions of windows and their height above ground level

Example of elevation plans(PDF, 274KB)

Pay the necessary prescribed fees as per the planning services fee schedule.

Additional documentation may be required, depending on the nature of your application. A planning officer can advise if you will need additional documentation and referral to other authorities. If your proposal is complex due to the planning scheme requirements, further information and the services of a professional consultant may be required.

A planning officer will review your application to check that all required details have been provided. If additional information is required, a further information request letter will be sent. This letter will specify the additional information required to assess the application and will also highlight potential issues with your proposal. You must comply with the lapse date (deadline) stated in the letter. If you require more time, a request will need to be made in writing prior to the due date.

An application cannot be assessed until all of the required information has been provided.

Public notice (advertising) is required if a planning application proposal may result in material detriment to another property. Potentially affected people are entitled to consider a proposal and its impact on them, and to submit objections or submissions for consideration by statutory planning officers and council.

Public notice can take the form of some, or all, of the following three methods:

• Mail-out to relevant nearby properties
• On-site notice
• Newspaper publication.

Please note, if advertising is required, an additional fee will apply to cover the advertising costs. This cost can vary depending on the advertising requirements.