Apply for a planning permit

 To do this you can:

• Call us on (03) 5422 0333; or
• Visit the Gisborne Administration Centre and speak to the planner on duty between 8.30am-5pm, Monday-Thursday; or
• Lodge a general planning enquiry. Note: any requests for written planning advice attracts a fee of $172.
• More information: Do I need a permit? 

Complicated or major applications may benefit from a pre-application meeting with a Planning Officer. Request a meeting

Simple or domestic applications can be discussed over the phone on (03) 5422 0333 or in person at the Gisborne Administration Centre if required.

If you lodge a request for a pre-application meeting a planner will:

• Make contact within 5 business days to arrange a meeting
• Meet within 10 business days of arranging the meeting. 

Discussing your proposal with your neighbours may save time down the track if you can address any concerns prior to submitting your application.

Professional advice, from a private planning consultant or similar, in the early stages can help you navigate the complexities of the planning process.

Complete the relevant checklist:

• Application in a residential area(DOCX, 27KB)
• Multiple dwellings on a lot(DOC, 92KB)
• Application in a rural area(DOC, 75KB)
• Application in an industrial/commercial area(DOC, 82KB)
• Subdivision(DOC, 77KB)
• Advertising sign(DOC, 60KB)
• Vegetation removal(DOC, 62KB)
• Dam(DOCX, 23KB)
• Liquor license(DOCX, 21KB)
• Remove or vary a restriction on a land title(DOCX, 21KB)
• Place of assembly(DOCX, 147KB)

Development associated with single dwelling - to develop land ancillary to the use of an existing dwelling (such as to construct an outbuilding and or to carry out works) or to use and develop land for a single dwelling per lot.

Start your application for a Single Dwelling Development

You can also Download an Application form for a Planning Permit(PDF, 961KB) to submit an application by mail.

Development Permit may include any of the following activities, Building and Works, Earthworks, Vegetation Removal, Signage, more than one dwelling and Industrial Development.

Start your application for a Development Permit

Subdivision Permit may include any of the following activities, multi-lot subdivision, subdivision of buildings and/or realignment of a common boundary or to consolidate two lots or more.

Start your application for a Subdivision Permit

Development and Subdivision Permit may include any of the following, construction of multiple dwellings and subdivision, multi-lot subdivisions and earthworks and subdivision and removal of native vegetation.

Start your application for a Development and Subdivision Permit

Use may include an application to waiver car parking requirements, medical centres, offices, motor vehicle repairs. Liquor Licence may include a new licence or variation or change of category to a liquor licence etc.

Start your application for a Use only Permit

Use and Development Permit (e.g. use and development of a medical centre and liquor licences) including combined application types.

Start your application for a Use and Development Permit

Removal of Restrictive Covenant - to remove a restriction (within the meaning of the Subdivision Act 1988) over land if the land has been used or developed for more than two years before the date of the application in a manner which would be lawful under the Act but for the existence of the restriction.

Start your application for a Removal of a Restrictive Covenant

Easement other than a Right of Way - to create, vary or remove an easement other than a right of way or to vary or remove a condition in the nature of an easement (other than a right of way) in a Crown grant.

Start your application

VicSmart is a fast-track process for eligible straightforward planning permit applications.

Find out more and start your VicSmart application 

For the other types of applications listed below, visit Planning forms and fees for the relevant application form.

• Amend a Planning Permit
• Amend an undecided application
• Extend a planning permit
• Miscellaneous Planning Consent
• Secondary Consent
• Submit Plans to comply with permit conditions
• Copy of Planning Permit or Plans
• Request for planning advice
• Certificate of compliance
• Amend or end a section 173

Once we receive your application documents and fee we will lodge your application.

We will email the nominated contact person for the application an acknowledgement letter with the application number and contact details for the allocated Planning Officer. 

If the Planning Officer requires additional information in order to properly assess your application, they will send you a Request for Further Information (RFI).

The RFI letter will list the information required, and may specify a date by which the information must be provided. 

If required, the Planning Officer will refer your application internally (e.g. to Council's Environment Unit) and/or externally (e.g. to water or power authorities).

Some referrals are required by the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme and we must allow 28 days for a response.

A referral authority may object to your application, consent, or consent with conditions to be included if a permit is granted. In some cases, we are legally required to follow their determination.  

If you are required to give public notice (advertising) of your application, we will send you an 'Advertising Instructions' letter. This letter will specify the required forms of notice, which may include:

• Letters sent to specified addresses
• A sign(s) on the site
• A notice(s) in a local newspaper

Council will send the letters to the specified addresses on your behalf, at your cost. Advertising letter fees are listed in the Fee Schedule(DOCX, 53KB) / Fee Schedule(PDF, 161KB).

Your application documents will also be made available on our website. Any person who believes they may be affected by the granting of the permit can lodge an objection to your application. 

Some applications must be placed on a fortnightly list for the Councillors to review.

If your application is "called-in" from this list by Councillors, the Planning Officer will no longer have the authority to issue or refuse your permit. Your application will instead be considered and decided by the Council, usually at the monthly Planning Delegated Committee meetings.

Your Planning Officer will discuss this with you in more detail if applicable. 

Once the Planning Officer, or the Council, has decided your application we will issue one of the following:

Planning permit

If the application is approved, and there are no objections, we will issue a planning permit. This will include conditions that need to be complied with. It may be issued with a set of endorsed (stamped) plans, or it may have a condition requiring modified plans be submitted to us for endorsement.

Notice of decision to grant a permit

If approval is supported, but there are objections, we will first issue a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit. This outlines all the conditions that will apply to the permit if it is issued, and is sent to you as well as all objectors. The objectors then have 28 days to apply for a review of the decision to the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal. If no application for review is lodged within this time, the permit will then be issued. 

Notice of decision to refuse to grant a permit

If the application is refused, you will be sent a notice outlining the reasons why. This notice will also be sent to any objectors to the application. You may apply for a review of the decision to the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal within 60 days. More information: VCAT Reviews