Apply to subdivide land

For any queries regarding the process:

• Email: planninginfo@ballarat.vic.gov.au
• Phone: 53205500

The subdivision process can be complicated so if unsure where to start please contact the Statutory Planning team for advice. 

The best way to start your planning journey is to submit an application for written advice or submit a request for a pre-application meeting.

You need to engage a licensed Land Surveyor to first prepare a plan of subdivision. This is the formal plan submitted with your planning permit application and ultimately your application for certification.

In Victoria licensed Land Surveyors are the only people authorised to determine the location of your title boundaries and to survey new title boundaries.

The Association of Consulting Surveyors Victoria and the Institute of Surveyors Victoria can help you find a licensed land surveyor.

Apply for and obtain a planning permit to subdivide land: 

1. Lodge a planning permit application via Council’s eServices portal.
2. Ask your Licensed Land Surveyor to lodge on your behalf.  

Application fees apply. Please refer to the Summary of Planning and Subdivision Fees 

We may refer your application to servicing authorities including, but not limited to, the local water supply and sewerage authority as well as electricity provider. 

If your planning permit application is approved, it will include conditions that must be satisfied for the subdivision to proceed. This may include conditions from servicing authorities or to complete public works or other works in association with the development of the land. 

Apply for and obtain a certified plan of subdivision:

Once a planning permit is issued to subdivide land, the subdivision plan must then be certified in accordance with the Subdivision Act 1988.

Most Land Surveyors are registered with SPEAR (Surveying and Planning through Electronic Applications and Referrals) and can lodge your certification application using this on-line portal.

If your Land Surveyor is a registered SPEAR user, they can also register you as a guest. This enables you to track the progress of your application on-line.

Before Council certifies your plan of subdivision, in addition to discharging the requirements of permit conditions, servicing authorities must also consent to the plan being certified.

Additional fees are payable, please refer to the Summary of Planning and Subdivision Fees

Obtain Statement of Compliance:

Statement of Compliance (SoC) is issued by Council once all requirements of a planning permit are met and all works have been completed and approved by all servicing authorities.

Once you have obtained SoC, you then lodge this and your certified plan with Land Victoria who will then commence the process of issuing titles for the new lots.

When subdividing land into three or more lots (or two lots where the potential exists to further subdivide at a later date), you are required to make a Public Open Space (POS) contribution.

This contribution is a requirement of Clause 53.01 of the Ballarat Planning Scheme.

Typically, a financial contribution equal to five percent of the unimproved value of the land is payable prior to the issue of SoC. In larger subdivisions however, Council may require up to five percent of the land to be set aside as POS.

Importantly, POS contributions apply to all land within a residential, commercial or industrial zone and applies to not only residential developments, but also commercial and industrial developments.

Exemptions apply. Please refer to Clause 53.01 of the Ballarat Planning Scheme for further information.

Please note alternate POS contributions apply in Ballarat's Growth Areas (Ballarat West and Alfredton West)

How are the POS contributions calculated?

Once your plan has been Certified you will need to email us at info@ballarat.vic.gov.au to request a valuation of your land. Please be sure to reference the planning permit number (for example PLP/2024/1) when making a request.

Your land is assessed and valued by a qualified and experienced valuer contracted by the City of Ballarat.

Once the valuation has been finalised, Council will forward this to you along with a letter confirming the amount payable and a reference number.

How to pay the POS contributions:

Submit your POS contributions payment via Council’s eServices portal.

• Please have your planning permit number to hand when making payment.
• If payment of the contribution has not been made within 12 months of the date of the land valuation, a new valuation will be required and the POS contribution could vary.
• Please note, Statutory Planning Officers will not seek a second or subsequent land valuation until such time as you make a formal request.