Using Victoria's Planning System
Information about planning processes is available in several sections of our site (see permit application process and scheme amendment process in particular) and in our publications. 'Planning: a Short Guide' and 'Using Victoria's Planning System' are useful guides about procedures in the planning system.
Planning: a Short Guide was written specifically for the community and occasional users of the planning system. It focuses on the four most common planning processes - applying for and objecting to a planning permit and applying for and objecting to a planning scheme amendment. The guide is simply written but comprehensive and leads users through the necessary statutory procedures. It is only available online.
Planning - a Short Guide (PDF - 669 KB)
Planning: a Short Guide (DOC - 384 KB)
Using Victoria's Planning System is a guide for those who use the planning system on a regular basis as well as those who have occasional contact with it. The guide is designed to assist professional planners, officers of authorities, councillors, students, people making an application for a planning permit and people who may be affected by planning proposals. It is a technical guide to interpretation and administrative procedures under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the Planning and Environment Regulations 2005 and their interaction with other related legislation and planning schemes.
For a complete hard copy of Using Victoria's Planning System, print the PDFs below. If you wish to maintain a current hard copy, subscribe to our free weekly email alert Planning Matters to be advised when chapters are updated.
Using Victoria's Planning System is updated on an ongoing basis and all chapters except Chapter 5 and the Index have recently been revised. Chapter 2 requires further revision to reflect changes to the Planning and Environment Act.
The documents below comprise the latest version of Using Victoria's Planning System.
Cover A4 (PDF - 83 KB) Table of Contents (PDF - 239 KB) Introduction (PDF - 115 KB) Chapter 1 Planning Schemes (PDF - 73 KB) Chapter 2 Amendments (PDF - 291 KB) Chapter 3 Planning Permits (PDF - 655 KB) Chapter 4 - Other Procedures (PDF - 151 KB) Chapter 5 - Reviews (PDF - 184 KB) Chapter 6 - Acquisition and Compensation (PDF - 60 KB) Chapter 7 - Enforcement (PDF - 79 KB) Chapter 8 - Agreements (PDF - 55 KB) Chapter 9 - Plain English (PDF - 103 KB) Glossary (PDF - 84 KB) Index (PDF - 75 KB)
Accessible Word format version
Introduction (DOC - 72 KB) Chapter 1: Planning schemes (DOC - 480 KB) Chapter 2: Amendments (DOC - 5.5 MB) Chapter 2: Amendments Part 1 (DOC - 1.4 MB) Chapter 2: Amendments Part 2 (DOC - 2.3 MB) Chapter 2: Amendments Part 3 (DOC - 1.9 MB) Chapter 3: Permits (DOC - 4.3 MB) Chapter 3: Permits Part 1 (DOC - 1.8 MB) Chapter 3: Permits Part 2 (DOC - 1.7 MB) Chapter 3: Permits Part 3 (DOC - 1.0 MB) Chapter 4: Other procedures (DOC - 68 KB) Chapter 5: Reviews (DOC - 311 KB) Chapter 6: Acquisition and compensation (DOC - 105 KB) Chapter 7: Enforcement (DOC - 208 KB) Chapter 8: Agreements (DOC - 135 KB) Chapter 9: Plain English (DOC - 279 KB) Glossary (DOC - 87 KB)
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.