Fees under the Planning and Environment Act

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Planning and responsible authorities (usually municipal councils) provide a range of planning services free-of-charge or at a cost.

Fees for planning permits and other planning services

Planning fees are set out in the Planning and Environment (Fees) Regulations 2000. Authorities may charge fees for the following:
  • Planning scheme amendments
  • Planning permit applications
  • Certificates of compliance with the planning scheme
  • Certificates setting out planning provisions that apply to land
  • Satisfaction matters – where the planning scheme says something must be done to an authority’s satisfaction.
Amendments to permits or applications for permits, and combined applications, will also attract a fee.

Inspection of amendments to the Victoria Planning Provisions, planning schemes and the Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Regional Strategy Plan will also attract a fee two months after the amendment comes into operation. See 'Documents for inspection' below.

Review of planning fees

The fees prescribed under the Planning and Environment (Fees) Regulations 2000 and the Subdivision (Permit & Certification Fees) Regulations 2000 are due to expire in 2010 and a project is underway to prepare revised fees. See Planning and Subdivision Fees Review.

Documents available for inspection free-of-charge

The Planning and Environment Act 1987 requires that the following documents be available for inspection free-of-charge:

Victoria Planning Provisions
  • current copy of the Victoria Planning Provisions
  • approved amendments to the Victoria Planning Provisions for two months after the amendment comes into operation
Planning scheme amendments
  • current copy of the planning scheme
  • proposed amendments to planning schemes until the amendment is approved or lapses
  • copies of submissions about a proposed amendment
  • panel reports about proposed amendments
  • approved amendments to planning schemes for two months after the amendment comes into operation
Planning permits
  • applications for permit and a register of applications for permit
  • objections to the grant of a permit until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision
  • permits issued including permits issued by the Minister
Other documents
  • approved amendments to the Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Regional Strategy Plan for two months after the amendment comes into operation
  • approved Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Regional Strategy Plan
  • Section 173 Agreements.

Documents are available for inspection at your municipal council and many of these documents are available on this website. Documents relating to exhibited and recently approved planning scheme amendments are available through the Planning documents for inspection page.