The first question you must ask is - do I need a planning permit?
Planning relates to how you develop and use your land. You may need a planning permit depending on what you want to do.
Each property or subject site has a different set of planning rules and regulations. These rules will specify when a planning permit is required.
There are several different factors that determine whether you need a planning permit. These may include:
- the type of development and/or works you want to do (e.g. extension, a new house, two or more houses, apartment/mixed use development, factory)
- a change in land use (e.g. café, gym, childcare centre)
- where the property is located (what zone or overlay controls apply)
- how big the property is
- whether the property is in an area that may possibly flood
- whether your property is adjacent to a major road
- whether your property is in an area where heritage controls apply
- if you are wanting to run a business from home
- if you wish to remove significant or native vegetation
- if you want to subdivide land.
It is important to find out exactly what planning controls apply to your property to understand your next steps.
To find out what controls apply to your property you can use:
- Level 1 service option: speak to a planning officer (see below)
- Level 2 or 3 service option: submit a general planning enquiry/property information request or request for pre-application planning advice (see below)
- access planning maps online
- undertake a property and parcel search
- purchase a copy of your land title from Landata
If you are looking to start a new business or expand/relocate an existing small business, you may need additional permits. See Starting or growing a business for more information.
Our pre-planning services
Kingston’s City Development team offers a variety of pre-planning services to help you find the information you need.
Our pre-planning pathways (Levels 1 to 4) are designed to help you:
- understand if a planning permit is required for your proposal
- establish what planning considerations apply
- obtain clear and accurate planning advice
- resolve issues up front and identify any concerns or improvements with your proposal
- receive advice regarding the likely success of your planning application
- understand what information is required to accompany your application at lodgement
- reduce the time your professional advisors need to spend on your planning proposal
- expediate application assessment timeframes by identifying matters early
- achieve better design quality and outcomes
To find out which level is right for you, please see a detailed description of each option below.
Level 1 - verbal planning advice
A qualified planning officer is available between 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday to answer any general planning questions you may have.
This option will provide you with introductory, high level, verbal planning advice.
Our Level 1 service includes:
- a conversation with a qualified planner (via phone or online)
- no formal written response
- free of charge.
To speak to a planning officer please either:
Please note that information and planning advice provided over the phone or at the front counter is of a general nature only and may not reflect the specific and full circumstances of your planning enquiry. You are solely responsible for any decisions you make based on advice received over the phone or at the front counter. For greater certainty on your specific situation, we recommend that you apply for formal written planning advice (refer to alternative options below).
Level 2 - general planning enquiry / property information request (written advice only)
A qualified planning officer can provide you with formal written advice about whether a planning permit is required.
This service is geared towards building surveyors and/or property owners who wish to simply ascertain if a planning permit is required or an amendment to an existing planning permit may be needed.
This option provides a high-level review only of the applicable planning controls. It does not include a comprehensive assessment or advice for a proposed outcome on a parcel of land.
Our Level 2 service includes:
- a high-level written response from a planning officer to advise if a planning permit is required or an amendment to an existing planning is needed
- a fee of $235
- timeframe: a response provided within ten (10) business days.
When applying for general planning information/property information, your request must include:
- specific instructions about the planning advice you are seeking
- Certificate of Title including plans, covenant details and/or S173 Agreements (if applicable).
- sketch or concept plans of the proposal (if relevant)
- neighbourhood and site description plan (if relevant)
- site or survey plan of the subject property (if relevant).
The quality and accuracy of our response is contingent on the information you submit. We will contact you if we require additional information.
Apply and pay for written advice
Level 3 - pre-application written planning advice only
A qualified planning officer can provide you with formal written advice about your planning proposal and/or answer any specific planning query you have.
Our written planning service will, amongst other things, let you know:
- if a planning permit is required
- identify relevant planning controls and planning considerations
- identify any concerns with the proposal or recommend improvements
- inform you about the likely success of your planning application
- whether your request to amend or end a Section 173 Agreement would be supported, in principle, by Council.
Please note that this service does not include legal advice.
Our Level 3 service includes:
- a formal written response in reply to your enquiry
- a fee of $235
- timeframe: a response provided within ten (10) business days.
When applying for written planning advice, your request must include:
- specific instructions about the planning advice you are seeking
- Certificate of Title including plans, covenant details and/or S173 Agreements (if applicable)
- sketch or concept plans of the proposal (if relevant)
- neighbourhood and site description plan (if relevant)
- site or survey plan of the subject property (if relevant)
- other relevant documents (e.g. site photographs, arborist report, shadow diagrams).
The quality and accuracy of our response is contingent on the information you submit. We will contact you if we require additional information.
Apply and pay for Pre-application written advice only
Level 4 - pre-application meeting and written planning advice
Our pre-application meeting option allows you to meet (in person or virtually) with a qualified planning officer to discuss your proposal and to answer any specific planning queries you have.
This option provides you with the opportunity to seek advice from and meet with other internal departments/officers, if available and deemed suitable by the assigned planning officer.
Our Level 4 service will deliver a comprehensive and holistic planning response that will provide you with the right information, greater certainty and help avoid unnecessary delays or surprises during the planning application process.
Whilst our Level 4 service can be used for any planning application type, we strongly recommend that complex application types including, but not limited to, mixed-use developments, large scale residential or commercial developments take up this service opportunity.
Our Level 4 service includes:
- meeting with a planning officer and other relevant/available Council officers (in person or virtually)
- referral to relevant internal departments
- comprehensive formal written response
- a fee of $470
- timeframe: planner to make initial contact within 3 business days, meeting to be arranged within 10 business days and written response provided 5 business days post meeting.
When applying for Level 4, your request must include:
- information as outlined in Level 3 (above)
- a full set of plans (draft site analysis and proposed is acceptable)
- photos of the site and surrounds and any other supporting reports/information.
Apply and pay for Pre-application meeting and written advice
Get copies of existing permits
If your enquiry relates specifically to obtaining a copy of an existing planning permit or endorsed plans, please see our page for details at how to get copies of exiting permits.
Affordable housing contributions
If you are a resident or developer, chat to a planning officer before you submit your planning application to learn more about how you can contribute to affordable housing in Kingston.
Homes for Homes is a non-for-profit company that seeks to deliver social and affordable housing through tax-deductable donations. The initiative is an innovative new funding model that will increase the supply of social and affordable housing within the Kingston municipality and around Victoria.