Planning permit application process: Requirements and overview
Quick Tasks
Contact the Statutory Planning Team
For any queries regarding the planning permit application process:
- Email: planninginfo@ballarat.vic.gov.au
- Phone: 53205500
Overview
The planning permit application process can be complicated. The Ballarat Planning Scheme sets out the controls that govern all land within the municipality. This includes the zoning of land as well as any applicable overlays. These controls establish a framework to guide the development of a site together with relevant state and local planning policies.
The videos on this page provide an overview of the key aspects of the planning process. These processes may vary depending upon the nature and complexity of a particular case.
Starting the application process
To start the application process, we recommend seeking preliminary advice from a planning professional or from the City of Ballarat’s Statutory Planning team.
City of Ballarat Planners can confirm if a permit is required in response to your request for advice. A request for written advice or a pre-application meeting may be necessary.
To lodge either a request for written advice or a request for a pre-application meeting, you must first be a registered eServices user. Please click on the below links to commence the registration or application process.
Submit a planning permit application
Once you have obtained and considered all relevant advice, you can then submit your planning permit application. A planning permit application must include:
A current copy of the title for the land, including copies of any covenants and agreements. The copy of title should be no older than 30 days. View more property and land titles information at land.vic.gov.au
Scaled and dimensioned drawings clearly showing the proposed development, including a site plan, demolition plans, floor plans and elevations as relevant.
A written response to the relevant provisions of the Ballarat Planning Scheme
Any relevant supporting technical documents, including but not limited to:
- A Heritage Impact Statement (HIS)
- A Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP)
- Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Statement, including a Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA)
- Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA)
- Flood Impact Assessment
- Drainage/Stormwater Assessment
- Arboricultural Report
- Biodiversity Impact Assessment
- Noise Impact Assessment
- The written consent of the Public Land Manager
The prescribed fee, view the Summary of planning and subdivision fees
Planning fees are dependent upon the application type and nature of the proposal. Fees are updated on 1 July each year by the State government.
Please note: Section 47 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 states that where a permit is required to use or develop land, an application must be made to the Responsible Authority in accordance with the Planning and Environment Regulations 2015 (refer Regulation 13). Section 47 of the Act states an application must include (inter alia);
- Advice regarding the estimated cost of the development (provision exists on the on-line application form to input this amount)
- The prescribed fee
- The information required by the Ballarat Planning Scheme
To lodge your planning permit application you must first be a registered eServices user. Please click on the below link to commence the registration process and lodge your planning permit application.
Submit your planning permit application
To submit a VicSmart application, refer to ‘Application timeframes’ below.
Public notice, advertising and feedback
Decision making process
Following the assessment process, the City of Ballarat will issue either:
- A Planning Permit, subject to conditions
- A Notice of Decision to Grant a Planning Permit, subject to conditions
- A refusal to Grant a Planning Permit
Where the permit applicant or a registered third party does not agree with the City of Ballarat’s decision, an ‘Application for Review’ may be lodged with VCAT, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Visit vcat.vic.gov.au to learn more.
Application timeframes
In accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987, a decision should be issued within 60 days of the receipt of an application. Provisions exist to ‘stop the clock’ where further information is required and this can often delay the process.
The complexity of a case may also cause delays, particularly if the resolution of certain issues requires the input of a variety of stakeholders, including other government agencies.
A fast-track planning approvals process also exists. This is known as the ‘VicSmart’ approval pathway and is reserved for smaller cases satisfying particular qualifying criteria. VicSmarts are required to be determined within 10 business days of receipt of an application. Provision again exists to ‘stop the clock’ where further information is required.
Clause 71.06 details the application process further. This includes the need to provide the comments of any identified referral authority together with your application.
Importantly, VicSmart applications are exempt from the notice requirements and review rights of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
Clauses 59.01 to 59.16 of the Ballarat Planning Scheme further detail each VicSmart category and the application requirements of these categories.
Please refer to the VicSmart Reference Guide to understand if your proposal may qualify for the VicSmart application pathway. If unsure, please contact Statutory Planning on 53205500
To lodge your VicSmart application you must first be a registered eServices user. Please click on the below link to commence the registration process and lodge your VicSmart application.
Conditions
All planning permits include conditions. Often these conditions require the submission of documents for further approval. Once submitted, these documents will be assessed and if in accordance with relevant conditions will then be endorsed to form part of the permit.
Sometimes documents need to be referred to other City of Ballarat departments and government agencies for further consideration. This can sometimes delay the endorsement process.
Excluding documents associated with engineering conditions, please submit all other documents in accordance with permit conditions to planninginfo@ballarat.vic.gov.au
To prevent delays, please clearly reference the planning permit number and the condition(s) in accordance with which the documents are being submitted in the subject line of your email.
Documents relating to engineering conditions must be emailed to engineering@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Please be sure to clearly reference the planning permit number and the condition(s) in accordance with which the documents are being submitted in the subject line of your email.
Next steps
When planning documents have been endorsed and the planning permit application process is complete, you will need to consider what other permits may be required.
These might include: