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Aerial view of Lake Wendouree at sunset with fountain and City Oval.

How you can help shape the next four years in the City of Ballarat

Community input is being sought to assist the incoming Ballarat City Council group in creating the Council Plan 2025-2029.Information gathered from the community engagement, which opens today, will be provided to Councillors as they set the direction, focus and priority areas for their Council term.Every four years the Ballarat City Council develops a new Council Plan to provide the direction of work for the next council term. The new plan will a...

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Preparing for what you will be trading

What you are trading will determine the types of permits you need. We have compiled industry-specific guidelines to assist you in progressing your business.

Help for sports clubs

We have information to help sports clubs in Ballarat.

Technology Help

Technology is continuing to grow and shape the way we go about our daily lives.

Our promise to you

Our promise to youInnovation, collaboration and creativity – High on our agenda is being innovative. You will be encouraged to use your creativity and collaborative skills to help us continuously improve, discover ways to do things better and challenge the status quo.Community engagement, customer experience and project management – Highly valued practices provide you with the chance to further develop your skills in engaging creatively...

Preparing for where you will do business

The types of permits you will need will vary based on what your business vision is, together with where you would like to operate your business from.

Pre-applications: What you need to know

The pre-application process is a two-way conversation between you (the permit applicant) and Council’s planning officers. This discussion provides you with a better understanding of Council policy and officer’s views. This process also provides officers with a better understanding of your proposal. After a pre-application process, you should be clear on what Council expects and the upcoming planning assessment steps.The meeting provides a permit ...

Planning help

Help, forms and checklists for your planning journey.

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Forms and checklists

Do you have everything you need to apply for your Planning Permit? Make sure you have everything together by using one of our forms or checklists.

More Information

Please see our Pre-Applications Page for details.

Policies and strategies

Reference documents under the Ballarat Planning Scheme

Local Incorporated Documents under the Ballarat Planning Scheme

View Local Incorporated Documents on Planning Victoria website.

Planning fees

There are a range of factors that determine how much you have to pay for a Planning Permit.

Calculating your fee

The cost of your application depends on what you’re doing. The key factors that influence your fee include:

The type of permit (use, development, use and development, subdivision)
The estimated cost of any development
The type of proposal and/or property (VicSmart, single dwelling on a lot, multiple dwellings on a lot)

For a full list of Statutory Planning fees, view our fee schedule.

I want to seek written advice as to whether a planning permit is required

Request written advice when you need to clarify whether a planning permit is required for your project.

Before applying, you'll need to ensure you have the following information:

An electronic version of your plans
Copy of your title including any relevant covenants and agreements

Apply for written advice

I want to request a copy of a planning permit or endorsed plans

To get copies of existing planning permits or endorsed plans, you'll need to apply. Before applying, you will need to have the following information:

Property address
Planning permit reference number

Please note: Copies are made available for the purposes of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 only. The information provided must not be used for any other purpose. By taking a copy of a document you acknowledge and agree that you will only use the document for the purpose specified above and that any dissemination, distribution or copying of a document is strictly prohibited.

Request copy of planning permit

I want to apply for a report and consent for a proposed demolition

Do you need to progress your building permit application but your registered building surveyor first needs report and consent for demolition under Section 29A of the Building Act? You will need to apply for a 29A Report and Consent for Demolition.

When a Section 29A request is received, we’ll determine whether a planning permit is required for the demolition, and if so, if a planning permit has been issued. If a planning permit has been issued for the demolition or no planning permit is required to demolish, we’ll issue consent.

A Section 29A consent request will be refused if a planning permit is required for demolition and no planning permit has been issued for the proposed demolition, or if the demolition proposed under the request differs from that extent of demolition approved in the planning permit.

The City of Ballarat can't issue Section 29A consents:

where City of Ballarat is not the responsible authority for the land
where a planning permit has been issued by the Minister for Planning
for permits issued for properties on the Victorian Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 1995.

Before proceeding, make sure you have the following information:

Planning and Building Permit application reference numbers
A full and current (no older than 30 days) copy of your Certificate of Title including the Plan of Subdivision and correct ownership details.
A digital copy of your plans and any supporting documents
Credit card details for payment of the application fee.
The cost is outlined in our fee schedule

Apply for Report and Consent for Demolition

Owner/Manager responsibilities for plantations on private land

Whether you have an existing plantation or are thinking of establishing a new plantation, you need to be aware of your responsibilities.

Native timber harvesting in Victoria’s state forests will end by 1 January 2024. If you’re considering establishing a new plantation, or harvesting an existing plantation, here’s what you need to know.

In the Ballarat Planning Scheme, ‘Timber Production’ is a defined land use, and requires compliance with Clause 53.11 (Timber Production) of the Ballarat Planning Scheme.

Clause 53.11-2 requires compliance with the ‘Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 (as amended 2022)’, known as ‘the Code’. Some zones require planning permits in addition to compliance with the Code. The Code regulates timber harvesting in State forests, private native forests and plantations. It outlines environmental standards for planning and conducting commercial timber harvesting.

Important values like biodiversity, recreation and cultural heritage are protected under the Code. Before establishing a plantation on private land, you must submit either a ‘Plantation Development Notice’ or a planning permit application to the City of Ballarat in accordance with section 4.1 of the Code.

Before harvesting a plantation on private land, you must submit a ‘Timber Harvesting Plan’ to the City of Ballarat in accordance with section 4.5 of the Code.

Blue gums are a popular plantation wood, and a favourite food and habitat for koalas. If you are considering establishing or harvesting a blue gum plantation, then koalas will likely be present and you are required to assess if they are present. For blue gum plantations, the Conservation Regulator requires owners and managers of blue gum plantations to hold an authorisation to disturb Koalas during plantation management operations, which would come in the form of a Koala Management Plan.

Templates for both ‘Plantation Development Notice’, and ‘Timber Harvesting Plan’ is available in DELWP’s ‘Management Guidelines for private native forests and plantations’.

A Koala Management Plan template and further information is available in the State Governments ‘Minimising impacts to Koalas in blue gum plantations – Regulatory Guide’.

For more information, please contact the City of Ballarat on 5320 5500.

Page topics

Planning Building

Need a little more help to sign up for rates direct debits?

Signing up for direct debits to pay your rates is quick and easy. Please note: Any arrears must be paid before signing up for direct debit. You will need to sign up for direct debit before 12 September. The option to apply will not be available in sServices after this date. How to sign up for direct debits with eServices: Log into your eServices account. If you don't have one, it's easy to sign up for an eServices acco...

Sleep and Settling Program

Our free Maternal and Child Heath Nurse run programs offer different options and supports for families to address sleep concerns for children aged 0-5 years.

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Forms and checklists

Planning application forms

Subdivision forms

Other forms

General planning permit application checklists

VicSmart permit application checklists