The City’s role is to provide information and make planning decisions in accordance with the relevant legislation and policies.
To ensure a fair and impartial decision-making process, the City cannot provide consultancy services or advice on the design or merits of a proposed development. This helps maintain the City’s independence as the decision-making authority and avoids any potential conflict between an applicant’s responsibilities and the City’s regulatory role.
We can, however, provide information about planning requirements, processes, applicable policies, and the information needed to support an application.
Step 1 - Check the website
FAQs & How to Guides
The City has prepared a range of FAQs and How-to Guides to assist with the majority of general planning enquiries. Before contacting the Planning team or requesting a meeting with a Planner, please review the information available at the link below, as it may address your enquiry and provide immediate guidance.
FAQs & How-to Guides
These resources provide general information and practical guidance on common planning enquiries, including:
- Unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation
- Ancillary Dwellings (i.e. Granny Flats)
- Outbuildings (Sheds)
- Removal of Vegetation
Public Mapping System
To determine the zoning, residential density coding, and other relevant planning provisions applicable to a specific property, please refer to the City’s Online Public Mapping System, accessible via the link below:
Intramaps - Online Public Mapping
A How-To Guide has been prepared to assist users in accessing and using the Online Public Mapping System.
How to Guide - Application for Development Approval
Step 2 - Phone the Planning team
If you are unable to find the information you need on the City’s website, including the FAQs and How-to Guides, please contact the Planning team on (08) 9781 1731 for further assistance.
Step 3 - Submit a request
Should you require further information after reviewing the City’s website and discussing your enquiry with the Planning team over the phone it is recommended that you submit a general planning request online via the City’s Request system using the link below :
Lodge Planning Enquiry
Once your request has been submitted, you will receive an acknowledgement confirming that it has been received and it will be assigned to an Officer. In accordance with the City’s Customer Experience Charter, the City will respond to written enquiries within 10 working days.
Step 4 - Apply for written planning advice
Please note that, to ensure you receive the most accurate and comprehensive guidance, the Planning team may recommend that you apply for Written Planning Advice if your enquiry is complex or requires detailed assessment. This service provides tailored written advice and a more detailed response than can typically be provided through a general request.
Written Planning Advice
The City offers a Written Planning Advice service to assist landowners, applicants and other interested parties seeking preliminary advice on existing or proposed development matters. This service provides written guidance on specific planning issues or development proposals, helping you to understand key planning considerations before progressing further.
Zoning Certificate
If you are seeking information about the planning and development requirements that apply to a property, you may wish to obtain a Zoning Certificate. This certificate provides details of the property's zoning, residential density coding (R-Code), applicable Structure Plans, Building Envelopes, and other relevant planning, building and bushfire-related information.
Real estate agents are encouraged to obtain a Zoning Certificate when marketing a property for sale.
Related forms can be found below:
Request for Written Planning Advice & Zoning Certificates
Request for Development (Planning) Approvals and Plans
Further information, and the process for requesting this service can be found at the following link :
How-to Guide - Application for Planning Services
Please note that fees apply to this service. Further information on the applicable fees is available on the Planning Fees page of the City’s website, at the following link :
Planning Fees
What development (planning) information will not be provided from this service?
As part of this service, the City is unable to undertake a comprehensive assessment against all relevant matters of the planning framework.
The City may be unable to provide an indication of the likely determination to support/not support a proposed development, without the formal lodgement of a development application for assessment and determination pursuant to the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations.
What development (planning) information can I request using this service?
The City is able to provide the following information through this service:
- General property details, including but not limited to zoning, building height limit, Scheme controls etc…
- Scheme and policy provisions applicable to a particular development or zone.
- Land use permissibility within a particular zone.
- Approved development (works and/or land uses).
- Required minimum and average lot sizes that apply to a particular lot and/or zone.
- Respond to questions from Bushfire Practitioners in relation to compliance with SPP 3.7 Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas and the supporting Guidelines for Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas.
Step 5 - Meet with a Planning Officer
If you have completed the above steps, but still require further clarification, you may request a meeting with a Planning Officer.
Please note that the City’s role is to assess and determine planning applications in accordance with the relevant planning framework. While Planning Officers can provide general information and guidance on applicable planning requirements they are unable to prepare proposals on your behalf, act as a private planning consultant, or provide detailed design solutions. As the City is the decision-making authority for planning matters, only general advice can be provided at these meetings. Where more detailed or technical advice is required, you may be advised to engage a suitably qualified planning professional.
If you would like to meet with a Planning Officer, you can lodge a meeting request online using the link below :
Request a meeting
To ensure the meeting is productive, a meeting will only be scheduled once all the following information has been provided:
- The address of the property;
- Your interest in the property (eg landowner, potential purchaser, adjoining landowner);
- A brief outline of the key issues or questions you would like to discuss; and
- If you have previously spoken with an officer, or received information related to your enquiry.
Once this information is received, the City will review your submission and determine whether a meeting is required, or if your enquiry can be addressed via phone or email.
If the City determines that a meeting is necessary, one will be arranged with the duty Planning Officer at the earliest available opportunity. Please note that meetings will not be scheduled earlier than 24 hours from the time the requested information is received.
To ensure the team can continue to provide timely and consistent service to all customers, you are advised that all meetings are limited to a maximum of 15 minutes.