Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposal with a planning officer at a pre-lodgment meeting before submitting a DA.
The City’s officers will advise on what information is needed, and explain the assessment process. 30-minute appointments are available Monday through Friday between 8:30am - 5:00pm.
Appointments are required; walk-in and same day appointments are not available.
To book your appointment, please call 9237 9222.
Development applications are most conveniently and efficiently lodged online through the City’s portal, allowing you to track the progress of your application.
Please ensure you complete and submit each of the following forms when submitting your DA. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Mandatory Forms:
You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the application when your application is formally lodged and receipted.
Public consultation may be undertaken for a period of 14 or 28 days.
Some applications may also be referred to external bodies for comment, such as the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage or Main Roads.
Representatives of the City's Building; Environmental Health; Compliance, Transport and Infrastructure Development; Parks; Economic Development and Place; and Community Development departments will consider the proposal and decide if it meets the City's requirements. One or more of the departments may suggest changes and/or applying conditions or advisory notes.
Some applications may be referred to the City's Design Review Panel for impartial architectural and design advice. For more information regarding the role and operation of the Panel, refer to
Local Planning Policy 7.1 Design Review Panel.
DAs are assessed by a planning officer under the provisions of Local Planning Scheme No. 5, relevant local planning policies and the Residential Design Codes (where applicable). For more information on applicable regulations and policies, visit the
Local Planning Controls and Policies page.
The time taken to assess individual applications varies. Depending on whether the application complies with the requirements of the local planning scheme and relevant policies, applications may be considered by delegated authority, or may be determined at a Council meeting.
The planning officer will prepare a report recommending approval or refusal of the DA. Development applications may be determined via one of two decision-making processes; either direct delegation, where the decision on the DA is made by the City, or the DA may need to be determined by Council at an Ordinary Council Meeting.
You will be advised in writing of the final decision of your DA.
Applications are required to be assessed and determined within certain timeframes:
- within 60 days if public consultation is not required, or
- within 90 days if public consultation is required.
The City always aims to determine applications in a timely and efficient manner.