Your Planning Permit

Before you apply for a permit

Before you apply for a planning permit, it's a great idea to get some pre-application advice to make the process as smooth as possible.

The planning department is committed to providing a range of pre-application services to provide advice about your proposal and help you lodge a satisfactory planning permit application with council.

Click here to take advantage of our handy and personal pre-applicaton services.

Apply for a Planning Permit

Recent changes introduced by State Government mean that from 19 September 2014 there are two streams of planning permit applications:

  • Those assessed under the standard planning process.
  • Those assessed under the new VicSmart planning provisions.

Applications that meet the VicSmart criteria are generally simple applications that have a 10 day assessment timeframe. It is important you understand which type of application you need to apply for as the application form and information that is required to be submitted with your application will be different.

For all types of applications we advise that you:

  1. Talk to a planner before you lodge your application. Consider bringing in sketch plans and other application documents (such as an arborist or geotechnical report) to discuss with a planner over the counter or in a pre-application meeting.
  2. Talk to your neighbours and other authorities about your proposal. An early discussion can often help to address any concerns they may have and open the way for negotiation.
  3. Hire a professional to prepare, lodge and manage your application, if possible.
  4. Lodge your application form with the required fees and documentation.

Supporting Documents that you must provide with your Planning Permit Application include:

  • A completed and signed application form.
  • The relevant application fee.
  • A full, current (produced within 90 days) copy of title.
  • Three sets of plans (site, floor and elevation plans) drawn to scale. Refer to the example plans in the Related Information section on this page.
  • Other documentation (such as a relevant planning checklist).

We recommend you speak to one of our Planning Officers before you submit your application to check you have everything you need.

To obtain an up-to-date copy of Title, go to LANDATA.

To request hardcopies of these documents, contact the Statutory Planning Department on 5624 2411.

Chat with a Planner

There are a few different ways you can get assistance from a planner:


Statutory Planning Pre-Application Planning Services

Before you apply for a planning permit, it's a great idea to get some pre-application advice to make the process as smooth as possible.  

The planning department is committed to providing a range of pre-application services to provide advice about your proposal and help you lodge a satisfactory planning permit application with council. 

Click here to take advantage of our handy and personal pre-applicaton services. 


Over the phone

Council’s Duty Planner is available to answer phone calls between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. They can be reached by calling 5624 2411. 

If the Duty Planner is busy, Customer Service will take a message and the Duty Planner will return your call within 48 hours.  

Please provide that address to which your enquiry relates and your contact details so we can get back to you, ready with assistance. 

PLEASE NOTE: Any verbal advice provided by the Duty Planner is non-binding. To ensure a thorough assessment of your proposal is undertaken, it is strongly advised you lodge an application for written advice to obtain the outcome in writing. 


At the Council Office in Drouin

Currently, Council is not providing this service.  To speak with a planner, please book via the pre-application planning service.


Written Advice

If you require planning advice in writing (provided on Council letterhead) an application can be made to Council.

What we need in order to assist you:  

Extending a Planning Permit

In order to extend a planning permits expiry date, the planning permit must still be valid and within six months of the expiry date. When applying for an extension, you must provide:

  • A cover letter detailing the extension period proposed and justification as to why this extension is required.
  • A fully completed application form to extend a planning permit.
  • Payment of the applicable fee.

Amending a Planning Permit

If any changes are required to what has been approved in your planning permit you must apply for an amendment to the existing planning permit. When applying for an amendment, you must provide:

  • A fully completed application form to amend an existing planning permit.
  • Payment of the applicable fee.