This page lists all available Planning Practice Notes.

Planning practice notes provide ongoing advice about the operation of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) and planning schemes as well as a range of planning processes and topics. They may be updated from time to time.

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58 results found

PPN01: Applying the Heritage Overlay

Guidance about the use of the Heritage Overlay.

Date published: August 2018

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Heritage

PPN03: Applying the Special Use Zone

Advice about the appropriate use of the Special Use Zone.

Date published: May 2022

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays

PPN07: Vegetation Protection in Urban Areas

Provides guidance on how to assess the significance of vegetation in urban areas and how to protect significant vegetation through the planning scheme.

Date published: August 1999

Category/ies: Environmental management; Heritage

PPN11: Applying for a planning permit under the flood provisions

Provides guidance on applying for a planning permit where flooding is a consideration and explains how an application will be assessed.

Date published: August 2015

Category/ies: Hazards; Permit applications

PPN12: Applying the flood provisions in planning schemes

Provides guidance on applying the flood provisions in planning schemes, including preparing policy, identifying land affected by flooding, preparing a local floodplain development plan, and the application and operation of the flood provisions, including the preparation of schedules.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Hazards; Rural

PPN15: Assessing an application for One or More Dwellings in a Residential Zone

Provides guidance to responsible authorities assessing a planning application for one or more dwellings on a lot and for residential buildings.

Date published: January 2018

Category/ies: Permit applications; Residential development

PPN16: Making a Planning Application for One or More Dwellings in a Residential Zone

Helps applicants make a planning permit application for one or more dwellings or a residential building. Provides advice on the things to look for in the planning scheme that may affect your application, the operation of the residential development provisions and information that needs to be provided with the application.

Date published: January 2018

Category/ies: Permit applications; Residential development

PPN17: Urban Design Frameworks

A guide to the preparing and using Urban Design Frameworks. The frameworks are strategic planning tools that set out an integrated design vision for the desired future development of urban places, and provide direction for interventions that shape open space, buildings and landscape.

Date published: July 2015

Category/ies: Urban design and development

PPN18: Planning Considerations for Horticultural Structures

Provides guidance about planning for horticultural structures. It includes: advice about relevant planning permit requirements; guidelines to help applicants develop site-responsive design; suggested planning permit conditions to address the range of siting, design and land management considerations.

Date published: May 2023

Category/ies: Rural

PPN22: Using the Car Parking Provisions

Provides guidance on the use of the car parking provisions in Clause 52.06 and the Parking Overlay. It explains how the car parking requirements are calculated and what information is required to be submitted with an application with car parking.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Particular provisions; Permit applications; Urban design and development

PPN23: Applying the Incorporated Plan and Development Plan Overlays

Explains the functions of the Incorporated Plan Overlay (IPO) and Development Plan Overlay (DPO) – the preferred tools for supporting plans – and provides advice about when these tools should be used and guidance on how to use them to achieve site planning requirements.

Date published: September 2022

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Urban design and development

PPN24: Shipping Container Storage

Provides guidance to councils, applicants and the community about the consideration of shipping container storage under planning schemes.

Date published: March 2022

Category/ies: Particular provisions; Permit applications; Transport, aviation and shipping

PPN27: Understanding the Residential Development Provisions

Provides guidance to ensure a common interpretation and consistent application of the residential development standards in Clauses 54 and 55 of all planning schemes.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Particular provisions; Permit applications; Residential development; Urban design and development

PPN29: Ministerial Powers of Intervention in Planning and Heritage Matters

The Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Heritage Act 1995 and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 provide for the intervention of the Minister for Planning in planning and heritage processes. This planning practice note sets out the circumstances in which the Minister will consider exercising those powers of intervention and the principles that will apply in considering a request for intervention, so that the use of intervention powers is both transparent and accountable.

Date published: October 2004

Category/ies: Heritage; Permit applications; Planning scheme amendments; Planning schemes

PPN30: Potentially Contaminated Land

Provide guidance for planners and applicants on: how to identify potentially contaminated land; the appropriate level of assessment of contamination in different circumstances; appropriate provisions in planning scheme amendments; appropriate conditions on planning permits.

Date published: July 2021

Category/ies: Hazards; Permit applications

PPN31: Preparing a Green Wedge Management Plan

Guides preparation of Green Wedge Management Plans and sets out general requirements that should be met. Covers the policy context and basis for the plans, their content and status. plans need to recognise land management conditions and circumstances, including the area involved, level of information and resources available, range of land uses, condition of the natural resource base and the needs of the local community.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Particular provisions; Peri-urban

PPN32: Review of Planning Schemes

Section 12B of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 requires a planning authority to regularly review the provisions of the planning scheme. This planning practice note explains what a planning scheme review is and suggests a process for conducting and reporting the review.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies:

PPN36: Implementing a Coastal Settlement Boundary

Provides guidance on implementing a coastal settlement boundary in a planning scheme for settlements outside metropolitan Melbourne.

Date published: November 2016

Category/ies: Coastal

PPN37: Rural Residential Development

Provides guidance when planning for, or assessing proposals for, rural residential use and development.

Date published: May 2023

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Peri-urban; Residential development; Rural

PPN39: Using the Integrated Water Management Provisions of Clause 56 - Residential Subdivision

Clause 56 provides sustainable water management requirements that aim to integrate use of all water resources – including rainwater, reused water, recycled water and stormwater – and reduce the use of potable water. This planning practice note provides supporting technical information about the integrated water management provisions of Clause 56, explains how Clause 56.07 operates, the water management provisions of Clause 56.07 and how its requirements can be met.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Residential development; Subdivision

PPN40: Using the Residential Subdivision Provisions of Clause 56 - Residential Subdivision

Provides information about how Clause 56 - Residential Subdivision operates, the objectives to be met for each class of subdivision, the subdivision site and context description, the subdivision design response, and the transitional arrangements.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Residential development; Subdivision

PPN41: Using the Site Management Provisions of Clause 56 - Residential Subdivision

Explains the site management requirements of Clause 56 - Residential Subdivision, how Clause 56.08 operates and how its requirements can be met.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Residential development; Subdivision

PPN42: Applying the Rural Zones

Provides guidance to planning authorities on the strategic work required to apply the Farming Zone, Rural Activity Zone, Rural Conservation Zone, Green Wedge Zone, Green Wedge A Zone and Rural Living Zone; and the purposes and features of each zone and where they may be applied, to ensure the most appropriate use of the zones to achieve the planning authority's rural strategic planning objectives.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Rural

PPN43: Understanding Neighbourhood Character

Explains for applicants, the community and responsible authorities what is meant by neighbourhood character. Provides guidance on preparing or assessing a proposed residential development so that it meets the neighbourhood character requirements of the residential development provisions in planning schemes.

Date published: January 2018

Category/ies: Permit applications; Residential development; Urban design and development

PPN45: Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and the Planning Permit Process

Describes the key provisions of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and how it interacts with the planning permit process. It covers: the requirement for, and preparation of, Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs); the role of Registered Aboriginal Parties and the role of local government; the effect of CHMPs on planning permit applications; enforcing CHMPs; and where to get further information.

Date published: May 2023

Category/ies: Heritage; Legislation and regulations; Permit applications

PPN46: Strategic Assessment Guidelines

Minister’s Direction No. 11 Strategic Assessment of Amendments requires a planning authority to evaluate and discuss how an amendment addresses a number of strategic considerations. This planning practice note explains what should be considered as part of the direction.

Date published: September 2022

Category/ies: Planning scheme amendments

PPN47: Urban Growth Zone

Explains the purpose and provisions of the Urban Growth Zone (UGZ) and the role of precinct structure plans in the UGZ.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Peri-urban; Urban design and development

PPN53: Managing Coastal Hazards and the Coastal Impacts of Climate Change

Provides guidance on managing coastal hazards, the decision-making process for assessing coastal hazard risk and planning for development in coastal areas.

Date published: February 2023

Category/ies: Coastal; Hazards

PPN54: Managing Referrals and Notice Requirements

Provides guidance to responsible authorities and referral authorities on the use of permit application referral and notice provisions in planning schemes, and reviewing existing - or proposing new – permit application referral and notice provisions.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Permit applications

PPN55: Planning in open drinking water catchments

Informs a responsible authority, water corporation and land owner about how open drinking water catchments are protected through guidelines, codes of practice, legislation, subordinate legislation (planning schemes) and model permit conditions.

Date published: February 2018

Category/ies: Environmental management; Rural

PPN56: Activity Centre Zone

Explains the function of the Activity Centre Zone (ACZ), provides guidance on how to apply the AcCZ and assists councils in tailoring the schedule to the ACZ to accord with their centre’s adopted structure plan.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Urban design and development

PPN57: The Parking Overlay

Provides guidance to councils on the preparation and application of the Parking Overlay. Explains what the Parking Overlay is, what it does, when and how to use it and how to complete a schedule to the overlay.

Date published: April 2013

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Urban design and development

PPN58: Structure Planning for Activity Centres

Provides guidance to councils on the activity centre structure planning process. Covers the reasons for structure planning in activity centres, the policy context, and possible inputs and outputs of the process.

Date published: September 2018

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Urban design and development

PPN59: The Role of Mandatory Provisions in Planning Schemes

Planning schemes are predominantly performance based, specify the objective that needs to be achieved and provide a degree of freedom on how it is achieved. Nevertheless, there will be circumstances where a mandatory provision will provide certainty and ensure a preferable and efficient outcome. This planning practice note sets out criteria that can be used to decide whether mandatory provisions may be appropriate.

Date published: September 2018

Category/ies: Planning schemes

PPN60: Height and Setback Controls for Activity Centres

Provides guidance on the preferred approach to the application of height and setback controls for activity centres.

Date published: September 2018

Category/ies: Urban design and development

PPN61: Licensed premises: assessing cumulative impact

Explains cumulative impact in relation to licensed premises in the planning system. Provides guidance to assist a permit applicant when considering and responding to the potential cumulative impact of their proposal, and support a council when assessing the cumulative impact of licensed premises as part of a planning permit application. Also provides guidance on preparing and assessing an application under Clause 52.27 of the planning scheme.

Date published: May 2022

Category/ies: Particular provisions; Permit applications

PPN62: Green Wedge Planning Provisions

Provides information and advice about Part 3AA of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Core Planning Provisions for Metropolitan Green Wedge Land, and the application of zones to green wedge land in the context of the reformed rural zones September 2013.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Particular provisions; Peri-urban; Rural

PPN63: Applying for a Planning Permit to Farm Chickens

Provides guidance for applicants and responsible authorities about: preparing and assessing a planning permit application for a broiler farm; and adding an outdoor range area to an existing broiler farm. This practice note does not apply to poultry farms for egg production, poultry hatcheries or the raising of pullets and broiler breeders, and to non-broiler poultry species such as quail, duck, turkey and geese.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Permit applications; Rural

PPN64: Local planning for bushfire protection

This planning practice note provides guidance on local planning for bushfire protection, assists councils to tailor the Local Planning Policy Framework in response to bushfire matters where necessary, and provides guidance on how to prepare schedules to the Bushfire Management Overlay.

Date published: September 2015

Category/ies: Hazards; Planning schemes

PPN70: Open space strategies

An Open Space Strategy (OSS) is a strategic approach for planning the current and future uses of open space within a municipality. This planning practice note provides guidance to councils on preparing an OSS, including reasons to prepare an OSS, and the possible inputs and outputs of the process.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Open space

PPN74: Making planning documents available to the public

The purpose of this practice note is to assist planning practitioners to meet the requirements for making documents available for inspection by the public under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (PE Act) while also complying with other legal obligations, particularly in relation to the use and disclosure of personal information.

Date published: January 2022

Category/ies: Permit applications; Planning scheme amendments; Planning schemes

PPN75: Planning requirements for heliports and helicopter landing sites

Explains how helicopter activity is regulated by the planning system, and provides guidance to applicants and responsible authorities on preparing and assessing an application under Clause 52.15 of the planning scheme, which applies to proposals to use or develop land for a heliport or a helicopter landing site.

Date published: June 2015

Category/ies: Permit applications; Transport, aviation and shipping

PPN81: Live music and entertainment noise

Provides guidance about the operation of clause 53.06 (Live Music and Entertainment Noise).

Date published: November 2022

Category/ies: Particular provisions; Permit applications; Urban design and development

PPN82: Applying the Metropolitan Planning Levy

Explains how the Metropolitan Planning Levy works, provides guidance on what is a leviable planning permit, and assists applicants and councils in calculating estimated development costs and the levy amount.

Date published: May 2022

Category/ies: Legislation and regulations; Permit applications; Residential development; Subdivision

PPN83: Assessing external noise impacts for apartments

This practice note provides guidance about the operation of Clause 55.07-6 (Noise impacts) and Clause 58.04-3 (Noise impacts) for apartment developments.

Date published: August 2017

Category/ies: Particular provisions; Residential development

PPN84: Applying the minimum garden area requirement

This practice note gives guidance about the operation of the minimum garden area requirement in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and General Residential Zone.

Date published: May 2022

Category/ies: Residential development

PPN85: Applying the Commercial 3 Zone

This practice note provides guidance about the application and operation of the Commercial 3 Zone.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Permit applications; Urban design and development

PPN86: Applying for a planning permit for a pig farm

This practice note provides guidance for applicants and responsible authorities about the preparation and assessment of planning permit applications for pig farms.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Particular provisions; Permit applications; Rural

PPN87: Preparing a planning permit application for animal production

This practice note provides information and guidance for applicants about preparing a planning permit application to use and develop land for animal production.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Environmental management; Particular provisions; Permit applications; Rural

PPN88: Planning for domestic rooftop solar energy systems

This practice note provides advice about planning permit applications for development that may overshadow an existing domestic rooftop solar energy system.

Date published: May 2022

Category/ies: Permit applications; Residential development; Urban design and development

PPN89: Extractive industry and resources

This planning practice note provides information and guidance about the current extractive industry approvals process and protecting extractive operations and resources.

Date published: September 2022

Category/ies: Legislation and regulations; Peri-urban; Rural

PPN90: Planning for housing

This practice note provides information and guidance about how to plan for housing growth and protect neighbourhood character to ensure a balanced approach to managing residential development in planning schemes.

Date published: December 2019

Category/ies: Residential development; Urban design and development

PPN91: Using the residential zones

This practice note provides information and guidance about how to use the residential zones to implement strategic work; use local policies and overlays with the residential zones; and make use of the key features of the residential zones.

Date published: December 2019

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Planning schemes; Residential development; Subdivision; Urban design and development

PPN92: Managing buffers for land use compatibility

This practice note provides guidance on planning for land use compatibility and the Planning Policy Framework, and requirements in planning provisions relating to the management of buffers, including use of clause 53.10 Uses and activities with potential adverse impacts and clause 44.08 Buffer Area Overlay.

Date published: March 2021

Category/ies: Applying zones and overlays; Environmental management; Hazards; Particular provisions; Permit applications

PPN93: Wind impacts in apartment developments

This Practice Note provides guidance on the requirements of Clause 58.04-4 which relate to wind impacts for an apartment development of five or more storeys.

Date published: December 2021

Category/ies: Environmental management; Residential development; Urban design and development

PPN94: Land use and transport integration

This practice note provides guidance about how the Transport Integration Act 2010 and the transport system should be given effect when preparing and implementing local planning policies and strategies for transport into the planning scheme.

Date published: December 2021

Category/ies: Transport, aviation and shipping

PPN95: Local heritage protection provisions

This practice note provides guidance on the local heritage protection provisions in the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Date published: May 2022

Category/ies: Heritage

PPN96: Glare and reflectivity

This practice note provides guidance about the planning considerations for reflected sunlight glare in the built environment.

Date published: December 2022

Category/ies: Urban design and development

Page last updated: 20/01/23