Cost and time

There are different factors that can impact the time it takes to finish a building project and how much it costs.

What impacts time for an approval?

The main reasons that affect the time it takes for getting a planning application approved include:

if Council needs to request more information to review an application
the time it takes to advertise a planning application
if Council needs to ask other people from outside the Planning team or outside the Council to help review an application
if the application has to be reported to the Planning Committee of Council for a decision. This usually occurs when many objections are received
whether Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) needs to review a decision
if you need to change your plans after a permit has been approved
applying for an asset protection permit too close to the start of construction.

Sometimes you have no control of these factors, but you can help the process by:

speaking to your neighbours early and letting them know your plans
applying for permits as early as possible
replying quickly to Council when more information is needed
addressing concerns of Council before advertising of the proposal. Council will let you know of key concerns before advertising.

Once all the information has been received and advertising (if needed) is finished, it can take between two or three months for a decision to be made. Council officers will contact you to let you know if there are any delays.

Costs and planning fees

Some of the different costs for a project can include:

the cost of hiring experts and professionals
fees when you submit an application
fees for advertising an application
fees for amending plans and proposals
credit card fees.

Planning fees

Planning fees change every now and then.

Planning Fee Schedule 1 July 2025 (185 KB)

Metropolitan Planning Levy

You will also need to apply for a metropolitan planning levy (MPL) certificate if the:

the estimated cost of your development is greater than $1,311,000 (effective from 1 July 2025)

Council can ask to verify the estimated cost of a development if it does not look right.

How do I pay the Metropolitan Planning Levy?

The levy amount is paid to the State Revenue Office before you submit a planning application with Council.

For more information about metropolitan planning levies (MPL) refer to the State Revenue Office website here: Apply for a metropolitan planning levy certificate | State Revenue Office