Pre-application advice

You may want to obtain written advice and information from Council about your proposal before applying for a planning permit.

What do I need to prepare for pre-application advice?

To get the best advice and information from a Council Planner, you should start the process early.  We recommend you provide the following information with your application: 

  • the address
  • a description of your proposal
  • a site plan showing the proposed design in context with adjoining properties 
  • floor plans
  • elevations
  • to build a multi-unit development, building or extending a house on land that is less than 500sqm, you’ll need:
    1. detailed neighbourhood and site description for your design
    2. a design response
    3. how you have thought about Sustainable Urban Design

Think about the people who live and own the nearby houses before you apply. Knowing any issues your neighbours have early on will reduce the costs and delays to your plans.

Pre-application types

Minor applications (written advice)

A minor application for pre-application advice is any proposal which has: 

  • alterations and extensions to an existing dwelling or commercial building
  • a two-lot subdivision
  • displayed advertising signage
  • minor reduction or waiver of car parking spaces required under the Port Phillip Planning Scheme
  • applications defined as VicSmart
  • similar small-scale applications

Medium applications (written advice)

A medium application for pre-application advice is any proposal which has: 

  • development up to four storeys
  • changing the use of land
  • mixed use development up to four storeys
  • new commercial development up to four storeys
  • subdivision of three or more lots
  • matters involving existing use rights or enforcement matters
  • other similar applications

Major applications (written advice)

A major application for pre-application advice is any proposal which has: 

  • development over four storeys
  • mixed use development over four storeys
  • new large scale commercial development
  • subdivision of multiple lots for a large development
  • matters involving existing use rights or enforcement matters
  • other similar applications

Pre-application meeting

A pre-application meeting is available as an add on to pre-application written advice.  If your proposal is simple, you may not require a face-to-face meeting.

We recommend a face-to-face pre-application meeting if you have a major or complex development proposal.

If there are any complicated issues with your proposal, other Council officers might need to attend.

Costs

Pre-application advice requests will incur a fee. 

Refer to the current Planning Fee Schedule (PDF 190 KB) for the pre-application fees.

Note: We can't refund your pre-application advice fee once you've submitted your planning application.

A credit card fee applies.

How to submit your pre-application request

The best way to submit your request is by applying only.  To do this:

  1. Register or log in to My Port Phillip
  2. Select 'Apply for a permit'
  3. Select permit type 'Planning'
  4. Select ‘Request a pre-application meeting’ from the list
  5. Add the address
  6. Fill in details about your request
  7. Review and click 'Lodge' to submit
  8. Accept the Terms and Conditions
  9. Pay the fee. A     credit card fee applies.

Alternatively, please submit a Pre-Application Advice Request form (PDF 225 KB) and include the following:

  • description of the proposal
  • site plan
  • concept drawings
  • photos of the site.

You will receive an invoice to pay the applicable fee once the request has been submitted. 

Note: Incomplete applications without the required attachments will not be accepted.

Contact us

Our Planning team is here to help.

Send us a message on My Port Phillip.

Phone: 03 9209 6424.

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).

Post: Planning Business Support, City of Port Phillip, Private Bag 3, St Kilda VIC 3182