About Planning Schemes
Planning schemes set out policies and provisions for the use, development and protection of land for an area. Each municipality in Victoria is covered by a planning scheme. These are legal documents prepared by the local council or the Minister for Planning, and approved by the Minister. This page provides an explanation of planning schemes.
View a planning scheme from Planning Schemes Online. For other planning information refer to the planning schemes home page.
What do planning schemes consist of?
What are the Victoria Planning Provisions?
Structure of a planning scheme
Who and what is affected by a planning scheme?
Who is exempt?
Who administers a planning scheme?
Where can I view/obtain a copy of the scheme?
More information
What do planning schemes consist of?
- Planning scheme maps, which show how the land is zoned and overlays affecting the land - Zones reflect the primary character of land, such as residential, industrial or rural, and indicate the type of use which may be appropriate in that zone. Sometimes, local areas have special planning controls (known as overlays), such as areas of significant vegetation or special heritage significance. These controls are in addition to the zone controls and ensure that important aspects of the land are recognised.
- An ordinance - which sets out the written requirements of a scheme, including local policies and the types of use or development which needs a permit.
- Incorporated documents - such as the Code of Practice for Private Tennis Court Development.
What are the Victoria Planning Provisions?
The Planning and Environment Act 1987 distinguishes between the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) and a planning scheme.
The Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) is a document containing a comprehensive set of planning provisions for Victoria. It is not a planning scheme and does not apply to any land. It is a Statewide reference, used as required, to construct planning schemes.
The planning authority (usually the municipal council) must provide the local planning policy content, including a Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS), and select the appropriate zones and overlays from the VPP, for inclusion in their planning scheme. The VPP also has references to a number of incorporated documents.
When any provision in the VPP is amended, all planning schemes containing that provision are also amended. Only the Minister for Planning can amend the VPP.
Structure of a planning scheme
Structure of a planning scheme diagram (PDF - 23 KB)For more information about the structure and components of a planning scheme go to the Structure of a planning scheme page.
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Who and what is affected by a planning scheme?
Planning schemes may apply to all private and public land in Victoria. A planning scheme is binding on all people and corporations, on every Minister, government department, public authority and municipal council.
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Who is exempt?
Some exemptions do apply. These relate to existing use rights, exemptions declared under Section 16 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Commonwealth land and permanently reserved Crown land.
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Who administers a planning scheme?
The administration and enforcement of a planning scheme is the duty of a responsible authority. In most cases this will be a municipal council but it can be the Minister administering the Planning and Environment Act 1987 or any other Minister or public authority specified in the scheme.
A municipal council will usually act as both planning authority and responsible authority.
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Where can I view/obtain a copy of the scheme?
The Act requires the responsible authority and municipal council, and any other person(s) whom the Minister specifies to maintain an up-to-date copy of the planning scheme, including all amendments to it and documents referred to in the scheme. The scheme and any accompanying documentation must be made available free of charge for public inspection during office hours.
Planning schemes may also be viewed at Planning Schemes Online. Amendments currently on exhibition or very recently approved may be viewed from the Documents for inspection page.
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More information
Legislation and regulations
Guides -
Planning - a Short Guide (PDF - 669 KB)and Using Victoria's Planning System
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.
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