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                    Melbourne Planning Scheme – do I need a permit?

                    The Melbourne Planning Scheme controls land use and development within the City of Melbourne. It contains state and local planning policies, zones and overlays and other provisions that affect how land can be used and developed.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The planning scheme determines if a planning permit is required to change the use of land or to construct a building or make other changes to the land. It also specifies relevant assessment criteria when a planning permit is required.

                    In most instances, buildings and works in the municipality, whether residential or business, must be approved by the City of Melbourne through the planning permit application process.

                    See Melbourne Planning Scheme on the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website for more details. 

                    What planning scheme controls apply to my property?

                    Every property has a set of planning controls that specify when a planning permit is required. Different controls apply to different properties, so it is important to find out which controls affect your property before embarking on the planning permit assessment process.

                    How to find out what controls apply to your property

                    In writing:

                    • You can make a planning property enquiry to seek written advice from the Planning Team on whether a planning permit is required for a particular use or development or to seek details of the planning permit history of a particular property. Visit Property enquiries for more information.

                    Online:

                    In person:

                    • View planning scheme maps in person between 7.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday at the Melbourne Town Hall Administration Building, 120 Swanston Street Melbourne.
                    • You can also request a pre-application appointment with a planning officer by emailing planning@melbourne.vic.gov.au

                    Special rules for Capital City Zone

                    The Capital City Zone applies to the area commonly referred to as the central city, central business district (CBD) or central activities district (CAD). The Capital City Zone works a little bit differently to other zones, as there are many more types of businesses and activities which don’t require a planning permit.

                    The Capital City Zone covers the whole CBD grid and also includes the Queen Victoria Markets and parts of Southbank. For clarification as to whether your site is within the Capital City Zone please visit Melbourne Planning Scheme.

                    The Capital City Zone is split into two schedule based areas, Schedule 1 (Outside the Retail Core) and Schedule 2 (Retail Core). The permit triggers and objectives of these two schedules are very similar.

                    Signage in the central city

                    The Capital City Zone also provides specific guidance on advertising and business identification signage in the Central City. In the Capital City Zone a retail premises, cafe, restaurant or shop can erect some types of signs without a planning permit, provided the premises is not located within a Heritage Overlay.

                    In a Heritage Overlay all signs require a planning permit, even if it is just the content being changed.

                    In the Capital City Zone the following common types of signs don’t require a planning permit:

                    1. An under-verandah business sign, if it: 
                      • does not exceed 2.5 m measured horizontally, 0.5 m vertically and 0.3 m between the faces of the sign
                      • is located between 2.7 m and 3.5 m above ground level and is perpendicular to the building facade
                      • does not contain any animation or intermittent lighting.
                    2. A ground floor business sign cantilevered from a building, if it:
                      • does not exceed 0.84 m measured horizontally, 0.61 m vertically and 0.3 m between the faces of the sign
                      • is located between 2.7 m and 3.5 m above ground level and perpendicular to the building façade
                      • does not contain any animation or intermittent lighting.
                    3. A non-illuminated sign on a verandah fascia, provided no part of the sign protrudes above or below the fascia.

                    Most other signs require a planning permit including any sign affixed to the shopfront, such as bulkhead signage above a display window or entrance.

                    Buildings and works in the central city

                    In the Capital City Zone a planning permit is required to construct a building, alter a building facade or construct or carry out works. This means that all external works require planning approval.

                    Some works are required to be to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority and undergo a simpler assessment process.

                    It is worth keeping in mind that other controls (such as Design and Development Overlay, Heritage Overlay, Special Building Overlay and so on) within the Melbourne Planning Scheme may still require a planning permit for simple matters.

                    Shrine Vista Controls

                    When a planning application is received that may be impacted by Shrine Vista Controls, the City of Melbourne will require a report assessing the proposed development for compliance with the controls. For further information, visit Vista Controls Planning Study.

                    Use of buildings in the central city

                    In the Melbourne Planning Scheme businesses and activities which don’t require a planning permit are commonly referred to as Section 1 uses. These include: 

                    • a dwelling or apartment
                    • an education centre
                    • an office
                    • a shop and some forms of retail
                    • a food and drink premises, such as  a restaurant.

                    However, there are uses that do require a planning permit before commencement within the Capital City Zone, these are referred to as Section 2 uses. Section 2 uses have potential amenity impacts on surrounding sites that need to be assessed. These include:

                    • a tavern or bar
                    • a nightclub
                    • a supermarket
                    • a car park
                    • a department store
                    • a hotel.

                    To see whether a use requires a planning permit, please contact us or check the following clauses of the Melbourne Planning Scheme:

                    Still not sure? Submit a pre-application advice request

                    Before lodging an application, you can submit a Planning pre-application advice request form so that a planning officer can consider your proposed works and provide you with expert advice before you apply.

                    Frequently asked questions

                    Planning permits

                    Do I need to provide car parking for my proposal?

                    Maximum car parking rates apply to:

                    • Carlton
                    • Southbank
                    • parts of North Melbourne, West Melbourne and East Melbourne
                    • the Capital City Zone (CBD and parts of Southbank).   

                    This has been successful in limiting the number of cars entering these areas and in encouraging greater use of public transport.

                    Please refer to the following sections of the Melbourne Planning Scheme details of the maximum rates:

                    An amendment to the Melbourne Planning Scheme has recently been approved as part of the Schedule to Clause 52.06 Car Parking to apply maximum car parking rates to new residential development.

                    The car parking provision for residential development in specific inner city areas of Melbourne (maximum car parking rate) seeks to introduce a discretionary maximum rate of on-site parking of one car parking space per new dwelling for Carlton, Southbank and parts of North Melbourne, West Melbourne and East Melbourne. This means that for new dwellings, parking spaces will not be required to be provided and that where they are provided no more than one space per dwelling is preferred.

                    The Melbourne Planning Scheme requirement of one car space per dwelling will apply to on-site parking for new residential developments only. The requirement does not relate to on-street resident parking permits.

                    Unless the site is redeveloped, the car parking spaces residents and property owners currently have on site as well as any on-street resident parking permit they are eligible to apply for, will not be affected by this control.

                    Please note:

                    • Some types of dwellings are not eligible for residential parking permits in Carlton, North Melbourne and West Melbourne.    
                    • You will not have access to a parking permit under the new scheme if your dwelling was constructed after 1 July 2008.   
                    • Residents of purpose-built student accommodation are not eligible for parking permits under this scheme.

                    See Parking permits for more information.

                    Do I need a planning permit to display or alter a sign?

                    The erection and display of many types of signs will often require planning approval.

                    The most common sign type is business identification signage. Business identification signage is defined as a sign that provides business identification information about a business or industry on the land where it is displayed. The information may include the name of the business or building, the street number of the business premises, the nature of the business, a business logo or other business identification information.

                    If your sign does not match the above description, it may fit into another category where different requirements may apply

                    The planning controls relating to advertising signage varies between zones depending on the sensitivity and amenity of the area.   

                    For example, in a Business 1 Zone, a business can erect up to 8 m2 of business identification signage without requiring a planning permit whilst in a more sensitive area, such as a Residential Zone, stricter limitations apply in regards to the amount of signage able to be erected without requiring a planning permit.   

                    In an area is subject to a Heritage Overlay, a planning permit is required to display a sign, this applies to all types of signage including updating or changing the content of a sign.

                    The Capital City Zone also provides specific guidance on advertising and business identification signage in the Central City. In the Capital City Zone a retail premises, cafe, restaurant or shop can erect some types of signs without a planning permit, provided the premises is not located within a Heritage Overlay.

                    Signage requirements and policies are found at Clause 22.07 and Clause 52.05 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme.

                    If you are unsure whether a planning permit is required for the signage you are proposing, please contact us.

                    Do I need a planning permit to put in a water tank?

                    Usually you do not need a planning permit to install a domestic water tank in your backyard at home.

                    However, you do need a planning permit if:

                    • the water tank is more than 4500 litres
                    • the property is covered by a Heritage Overlay and you can see the water tank from the street or a public park.

                    Do I need a planning permit to paint a building?

                    A planning permit is required to paint the outside of a building if the site is located within a Heritage Overlay and:

                    • it is identified as a property where external paint controls apply (the schedule to the overlay identifies whether or not paint controls are applicable)
                    • the proposed painting will change the appearance of the building in anyway (such as a change of colour).   

                    A planning permit is normally not required for re-painting a building exactly the same colour, as this is considered to be routine repairs and general maintenance.

                    The City of Melbourne's permission is also required to paint a building located within the Capital City Zone.   

                    If you are unsure if you need a planning permit for painting please contact the Planning Team on 03 9658 9658.

                    If painting is just one component of other changes you propose to your building, it is highly likely that the other changes will require planning approval. If so, please contact the City of Melbourne to determine whether a planning permit is required.

                    Do I need a planning permit to construct a fence?

                    Fences are normally exempt from requiring planning permits under the provisions of the Melbourne Planning Scheme unless specifically required.

                    Circumstances where a planning permit may be required to construct or alter a fence include:

                    • any fence (including back and side fences) on a property that is located within the following overlays:
                      • Heritage Overlay (HO)   
                      • Special Building Overlay (SBO)   
                      • Land Subject to Induction Overlay (LSIO)
                    • a front fence in a Residential or Mixed Use Zone that is located with 3 metres of a street, if it is associated with:
                      • one dwelling on a lot of less than 300 square metres, and the fence exceeds the maximum height specified in Clause 54.06-2 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme
                      • two or more dwellings on a lot or a residential building, and the fence exceeds the maximum height specified in Clause 55.06-2 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme

                    The City of Melbourne has compiled a checklist of information that should to be submitted with a planning permit application to alter or construct a fence. Visit Planning application checklists for the form.

                    If you are unsure if you need a planning permit to erect or alter a fence, please contact us.

                    Do I need a planning permit for vehicle crossing over a footpath?

                    A crossover or vehicle crossing is the area between the road and the driveway on your property.
                    Since a crossover is on public land, you need a permit from the City of Melbourne's Engineering Department for a new crossover or to alter an existing crossover. See Constructing, modifying or removing a vehicle crossing for more information. Please note, this permit is not the same as a planning permit. 

                    You need a planning permit in addition to a vehicle crossing permit for a new crossover if the land is:

                    • in a Heritage Overlay area
                    • next to a Road Zone   
                    • in a Design and Development Overlay Schedule 3 Traffic Conflict Frontages.

                    New crossovers may not be supported in Heritage Overlay areas where vehicle crossover and parking at the front of houses is not part of the character of that street or area.   

                    New crossovers may also not be supported within the Central City where Schedule 3 of the Design and Development Overlay applies to land.

                    Do I need a planning permit to put up a satellite dish?

                    A planning permit is needed to install a satellite dish if the satellite dish is:

                    • more than 1.2 metres in diameter and is either:
                      • visible from the street (not a lane)
                      • visible from a public park
                      • not set back at least 3 metres from the boundary where it is opposite a habitable room window (that is a living area or bedroom, but not a bathroom)
                      • not set back from the side or rear boundary 1 metre, plus 0.3 metres for every metre of height over 3.6 metres up to 6.9 metres, plus 1 metre for every metre of height over 6.9 metres
                    • more than 2.4 metres in diameter
                    • to be installed at a property covered by a Heritage Overlay or in the Capital City Zone.

                    The purpose of a planning permit makes sure that a large satellite dish does not impact on the neighbourhood.

                    If you install a satellite dish in one of these situations without a planning permit, you may be issued a fine and be asked to remove it.

                    When deciding on a location for a satellite dish you should consider:

                    • visibility – choose a place that can’t be seen from the street and one that is not up too high
                    • neighbours – choose a place that will not shade neighbours open space, or be seen directly from their backyard or main living area windows.

                    Don’t just think about getting the simplest location to attach the satellite dish or get the best reception; consider what it will look like and what the neighbours might think of it being put there.

                    Clause 52.04 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme details the rules and requirements for satellite dishes.

                    Do I need a planning permit to remove a tree?

                    Usually you do not need a planning permit to remove, destroy, lop or prune a tree, shrub or other vegetation.

                    However, you may need a planning permit if:

                    • any of the landscaping has been identified in a landscape plan approved as part of a planning permit
                    • the tree has been identified in any VCAT order that relates to the land
                    • the tree has been identified in a Heritage Overlay
                    • the land is included in a Comprehensive Development Zone (CDZ) or Development Plan Overlay (DPO) where the schedule to the CDZ or DPO identifies that the tree is to be retained.

                    In the Kensington Banks Comprehensive Development Zone any tree over two metres in height requires a planning permit to be issued before removal commences.

                    Before you remove or lop vegetation please check what planning controls apply to the land. Removing trees without the proper approvals can lead to large fines.

                    Do I need a planning permit to run a business from my house?

                    Many types of business can be run from your home if they do not disturb the surrounding neighbours. It depends on the zone of your property and the nature and size of the business proposed.

                    The Melbourne Planning Scheme calls running a business from home a ‘home occupation’. Home occupation is defined as an occupation carried out in a dwelling, or on the land around the dwelling by a resident of the dwelling.

                    You do not need a planning permit for ‘home occupation’ in a Residential Zone as long as certain requirements are met. These requirements are listed in Clause 52.11 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme.

                    Certain types of business cannot be run from home, including businesses involving the service and repair of motor vehicles on the site.

                    Speak to your neighbours and tell them about the business you want to run from home. Tell them to contact you first if your home business disturbs them. This way you could solve a problem without involving the City of Melbourne.

                    Before commencing running a business from home, it is recommended you check the City of Melbourne's environmental health laws and local laws for other permits you may need.

                    Planning scheme rules about running a business from home are the same for a rental home or rental unit and for a property occupied by the owner. If the property is rented, you should check if the terms of the lease or the owners corporation rules allow business uses.

                    Do I need a waste management plan?

                    A waste management plan may be required when more than one dwelling or business is proposed as part of a development, regardless of whether bins will be shared or individually used. A waste management plan is not required if your planning application is for an individual dwelling. A planning officer is able to advise when one may be required.

                    Waste management plans are required to effectively manage the waste and recycling needs of developments and are an important part of the development approval process. They aim to ensure that waste storage spaces, collection frequencies and collection locations are adequate for the development proposed. Some developments have narrow frontages which limits the location and number of bins which can be placed out for collection.

                    See Waste and recycling for more information about central city waste laws.

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