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Planning Permits

A planning permit is a legal document issued by Council, allowing for the use or development of a specific property. Not all building works require a planning permit.

Planning Permit or Building Permit?

A planning permit is only required for certain uses and developments, while a building permit is required to construct any building or dwelling.

If required, a planning permit needs to be granted before a building permit can be issued.

Planning permits are generally only issued by Council, however building permits can be issued by any registered Building Surveyor under the Building Regulations Act 2006. Council’s Building Department or your own nominated private Building Surveyor can issue a building permit.

View more information about building permits.

Do I need a Planning Permit?

You may need a planning permit to change how your property is used or to build on your property. Some common proposals that require a planning permit include:

changing the way your land is used (i.e. residential, commercial or industrial)
constructing an additional building on the land
adding an extension or verandah to a building
installing a satellite dish
demolishing a structure.

To find out if you require a planning permit, view the Hume Planning Scheme for zoning and overlays (including any restrictions they may cause).

You can obtain your own independent planning advice by discussing your project with a consulting Town Planner. A list of consulting Town Planners can be found on the Planning Institute of Australia website. Consulting Town Planners are not affiliated with Council and therefore fees may apply for their services.

You can also visit, call or email our Statutory Planning team if you have questions about the planning permit process.

If you would like advice or confirmation about a planning matter in writing, you will need to submit an Application for Information on Planning Controls(PDF, 57KB) with the relevant fee. Please note that receiving written confirmation from Council can take up to 14 days.

What is a Certificate of Title?

A Certificate of Title is a legal document relating to a particular parcel of land.

It details information such as the current owner of the land and any restrictions which may affect the land.

All planning permit applications and requests for information must be submitted with a full Certificate of Title that has been produced within the last three months.

Council does not hold Certificates of Title, and without one our planning officers cannot provide advice on any restrictions that may affect your property.

To get a copy of your Certificate of Title, visit the Land Titles Office's website, contact them on 8636 2831 or visit them in person at:

Land Information Centre
Level 10, 570 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Arrange a pre-application meeting

If a planning permit is required, we recommend that you arrange a meeting to discuss your project before lodging your planning application. This will help you understand what information you will need to provide, and can make the application process quicker and easier.

Having a pre-application meeting does not guarantee that your application will immediately be approved when it is lodged with Council, but it will help identify major issues or concerns with your proposal.

Please contact the Statutory Planning team by phone or email to arrange your pre-application meeting.

What to bring to the meeting

You will need to bring copies of:

preliminary or concept plans (including information on the site and neighbourhood)
a detailed explanation of your proposal, and
a current Certificate of Title (including any covenants or additional agreements listed).

If you have been working with a consulting Town Planner, Architect or Draftsperson, we recommend that they also come to the pre-application meeting.

View the pre-application meeting fact sheet(PDF, 188KB)

Do I need to inform my neighbours?

You are not required to inform your neighbour/s of your application, however we strongly encourage you to consult with your immediate neighbours about your plans.

Council will advertise most planning applications to surrounding neighbours during the application process. By talking with your neighbours beforehand, you may clarify any potential issues they have, meaning fewer delays through the planning process for you.

Is there a fee for making a planning application?

Yes. Fees are generally determined by the State Government, based on the expected cost of the development or a use fee.

Planning fees are for the assessment of your proposal. There is no refund if your application is refused.

View planning fees(PDF, 295KB).

How long does it take to process an application?

The timeframe for Council to issue a planning permit depends on how complex the application is, whether neighbours need to be notified, how much information is provided with the application and other matters. Once we have everything we need to assess the application, Council has 60 days to make a decision.

If your application is a VicSmart application, an assessment period of 10 business days applies.

If the permit is not issued within the 60 day period, you can apply for a review with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

After you have submitted your planning documents to Council, a Town Planner will be assigned to manage your application. Your nominated Town Planner can give you more information about the timeframes for making a decision on your application.

For further information view the Decision Timelines for Planning Applications(PDF, 291KB) factsheet.

Do I need to hire an Architect or a Design Consultant?

Yes. A suitably qualified Architect or Design Consultant is required to prepare your design drawings. It is also recommended that you speak to an independent consulting Town Planner if you have a more complex project in mind.

What is the advertising process?

If a proposal could impact on the surrounding land owners or occupiers, your application may need to be advertised. This process is required for most applications, and the Town Planner assessing your application will confirm this.

Please note that an additional administrative fee applies to cover public advertising costs.

The advertising process may include:

A public notice on the property
Letters of notification sent to adjoining property owners, occupiers or beneficiaries, and/or
A notice in the local newspaper.

For further information, view the Understanding the advertising process of a planning application(PDF, 270KB) factsheet.

Can I contest or appeal Council’s decision?

Yes. You can contest Council's decision to refuse your application or the conditions imposed on your planning permit. To contest Council's decision, you can make an appeal through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

A permit applicant can appeal Council’s decision within 60 days of the decision being made. An objector has 21 days to appeal against Council’s decision.

What happens if Council has not decided on my application within the specified timeframe?

If a decision has not been made on your application within the specified timeframe, you can appeal Council’s failure to determine the application.

An appeal application is lodged with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Once the matter has been taken to VCAT, we are not able to issue a decision on your application. Approval or refusal of your application is determined by VCAT during an appeal hearing.

For further information you can view Council’s VCAT factsheet(PDF, 247KB).