Planning

Find out the steps, advice and support available when applying for a planning permit.

What to know

Planning permit process

There are many steps in the planning permit process. The time it takes to get a decision can depend on:

how complex the proposal is
who else is involved
if more information is required.

The planning permit process usually involves the following steps:

Privacy Statement

How we handle your personal information

The City of Port Phillip collects personal information to assess and process planning permit applications in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

We use this information to:

correspond with you about your application
undertake statutory notification to affected parties
make application documents available for public inspection as required by law
administer and manage the planning process
carry out any other directly related or reasonably related functions

If you do not provide all required information, Council may not be able to process or assess your planning application.

How your information will be made available

To meet our statutory obligations, certain planning documents must be publicly accessible. Council manages this in two ways:

1. Advertising documents (during the public notice period)

Planning documents (such as plans and reports) are made available online on Council’s website during the public notice period.

Before any document is published online, Council redacts all personal information, including names, residential or postal addresses (other than the address of the subject land), contact details and other identifying information.

The address of the subject land must remain visible under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, even where this is also the applicant’s residential address. Publishing the subject land address is required under that Act and is an authorised disclosure under privacy legislation.

Only redacted documents (other than the subject land address required by law) are available to the public.

These documents remain accessible until the planning process is concluded, including any review at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

2. Statutory Planning Permit Register

Council maintains a statutory register under section 49 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

The register is accessible online, does not display names or personal details, and contains the mandatory information prescribed by the Act, including the address of the subject land.

Further disclosures

Your personal information may be shared with:

relevant Council officers involved in the planning process
other government agencies where required for assessment or referral
persons accessing information in accordance with the Public Records Act 1973, the Planning and Environment Act 1987, or the Freedom of Information Act 1982
VCAT where a review is lodged

Council does not disclose personal information to any other person unless required or authorised by law.

Access or correction

You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information by contacting the Planning Department at 03 9209 6424 or planhelp@portphillip.vic.gov.au.

If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, you may also contact Council’s Privacy Officer at helpprivacy@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Planning confirmation

A planning confirmation letter will help you find out if your project needs a planning permit, a building permit or both. The more information you provide us, the more reliable and accurate our advice will be. It is a great place to start.

Planning pre-application meeting

Before you submit a permit application, discuss your proposal with Council to get advice and support on your project. We can also help with complicated proposals.

- Check if you need a planning permit for your proposal.
- Set up an account and register for My Port Phillip.
- Request a pre-application meeting with Council to get information and advice about your proposal.
- Consider sustainable design in your plans.
- Consider if you need to remove any vegetation to facilitate your development.
- View our permit checklist to get your documents ready.
- Check what planning permit application you need – a new application or an amendment to a previous permit.
- Check your eligibility for VicSmart (fast track) application.
- Pay the planning fees.
- Submit your application online on My Port Phillip. You can use the standard application process or the VicSmart application process.
- You can be asked to submit additional plans during the review process.
- Council might advertise your planning application to the public.
- Understand how decisions are made when Council is reviewing your application.
- You can track the status of your application on My Port Phillip.
- You can change a planning permit application or, extend or change an approved application.

Things to consider

A number of things can affect the process when you’re considering a project, including:

Cost and time - many factors affect the time and cost it takes to get a planning permit. The costs can be for getting help from professionals, submitting applications and advertising your plans.
Who to involve - during the different stages of the project, you’ll connect with many people and groups such as City of Port Phillip Council, architects and your neighbours.
How decisions are made - Council considers many different things when they approve or refuse your permit request.
Heritage planning - Heritage Overlays are created to make sure that any developments keep or improve the character and history of Port Phillip.
Sustainable design - how to consider sustainable design in your plans.

Support for your business

You might need more than one permit to operate your business. Use our Business Permit Finder to see what permits and approvals you may need.

Contact us

Our Planning team is here to help.

Send us a message on My Port Phillip.

Phone: 03 9209 6424

Email: planhelp@portphillip.vic.gov.au

In person: visit the Planning and Building Counter at St Kilda Town Hall during opening hours (8.30 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday)