Step 1: Preparing for your applications

Pre-application meetings

• Do I need to attend a pre-application meeting?

  A pre-application meeting is optional.

  To make sure you get the best advice from the Council Planner, you should:

  • Find out the zone and overlays affecting your property
  • Look at the Port Phillip Planning Scheme and planning policies.
  • Get a copy of the Certificate of Title for the land
  • Put together design ideas and sketches showing:
    • your proposal considers the location and neighbourhood
    • the design considers the restrictions of the location
  • To build a multi-unit development, building or extending a house on land that is less than 500sqm, you’ll need:
    • detailed neighbourhood and site description for your design
    • a design response
    • how you have thought about Sustainable Urban Design

  Think about the people who live and own the nearby houses before you apply. Knowing any issues your neighbours have early on will reduce the costs and delays to your plans.

• Costs

  Pre-application meeting requests will incur a pre-application fee of $331.70. You will receive an invoice once your pre-application meeting request is lodged.

  Note: We can't refund your pre-application advice fee once you've submitted your planning application.

  A credit card fee applies.

• How to request a meeting

  To request a pre-application meeting online:

  1. Register or log in to My Port Phillip
  2. Select 'Apply for a permit'
  3. Select permit type 'Planning'
  4. Select ‘Request a pre-application meeting’ from the list
  5. Add the address
  6. Fill in details about your request
  7. Review and click 'Lodge' to submit
  8. Accept the Terms and Conditions
  9. Pay the fee if required. A credit card fee applies.

  Alternatively, please submit a Pre-Application Advice Request form (PDF 225 KB) and include the following:

  • description of the proposal
  • site plan
  • concept drawings
  • photos of the site

  You will receive an invoice to pay any applicable fee once the request has been submitted. Then you will be contacted by a planner approximately five to 10 working days after submitting the request.

  Note: Incomplete applications without the required attachments will not be accepted.