Our Planning Team is here to help guide you through planning requirements to make the application process easier.
General planning enquiries
A City of Vincent Urban Planner is available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 8.30am to 5pm to assist customers with general planning enquiries.
We can assist with general enquiries such as:
- land zoning
- development application lodgement and process
- statutory timeframes
- community consultation requirements
- general advice on local planning policy requirements
Urban Planners cannot confirm if any departure from the planning framework or development application would be supported without a formal submission.
Meet with an Urban Planner at the Vincent Administration Building.
Pre-lodgement meeting
The City of Vincent invites pre-lodgment meetings for all application types however please be mindful, general enquiries should be dealt with through the general enquiries process detailed above.
Depending on the application type, a pre-lodgement meeting can be held with an Urban Planner, Senior Urban Planner or Coordinator Planning Services. The purpose of pre-lodgement meetings are for the City’s officers to review the proposal, provide general advice, identify areas of improvement and to discuss the development application process. Pre-lodgement meetings will not confirm whether or not the City will support the proposal.
To request a pre-lodgement meeting, please email us requesting a meeting and including a copy of plans and a brief description of your proposal.
Written planning advice
We can provide formal advice in writing in relation to a number of planning matters.
Our team will provide you with as much information as possible and give some direction as to whether a proposal could be improved, or areas to be considered. We cannot:
- Confirm whether or not a departure would or would not be supported in the absence of a formal development application
- Confirm whether a proposal would or would not be supported in the absence of a formal development application
- Undertake a full assessment of a proposal in the absence of a formal development application
Written Planning Advice Application Form
Deemed-to-comply check
The construction of a new single house, or extensions and/or renovations to an existing house may be exempt from requiring development approval if they meet the deemed-to-comply criteria of Volume 1 of the Residential Design Codes or any local planning policy that amends or replace these criteria.
The deemed-to-comply check allows applicants who are intending on either building a new single house or extending and/or altering an existing single house to seek advice from the City as to whether development approval is needed for what they are proposing.
The intent of this check is to provide applicants with confidence that their proposal can proceed straight to building permit.
This is a voluntary process that only applies to single houses and extensions or renovations to existing single houses.
How to apply
An application for a deemed-to-comply check must be made to the City using the following form below.
Deemed-to-Comply Check Application Form
The fee for a deemed-to-comply check is currently $295.
The following relevant documentation must be submitted with the application:
- Site Plan - showing lot dimensions, all existing an proposed structures, existing and proposed existing and proposed ground levels, any structures proposed to be removed, existing and proposed pedestrian and vehicle access, car parking spaces including layout and dimensions, any proposed open space and landscaping
- Floor Plans - of buildings proposed to be erected or altered, and any buildings proposed to be retained, complete with setbacks to all lot boundaries
- Elevation Plans - of buildings proposed to be erected or altered, and any buildings proposed to be retained, complete with existing and proposed ground levels and wall and roof height dimensions taken from natural ground level
- Landscape Plan - showing planting areas and proposed tree locations and species
You may be asked to provide more information before the application is accepted and lodged.
You can lodge your application by emailing [email protected]. The application is not accepted until payment has been received.
What advice would I receive back from the City?
Once accepted and lodged, the City will review the application and information provided to check whether what is being proposed meets all the relevant deemed-to-comply criteria of the R-Codes Volume 1 and, where relevant, any local planning policy.
It is important to note that this is not a de-facto development application process, but a simple check of the proposal against the deemed-to-comply criteria of the R-Codes and any relevant local planning policy.
Advice of the outcome will be provided within 14 days of the application being accepted and lodged.
The advice will state either that:
- The proposal is exempt from development approval; or
- The proposal is not exempt from development approval. This will include the reasons why, by briefly outlining where and how the proposal does not meet the deemed-to- comply criteria of the R-Codes and any relevant local planning policy
What happens next?
If the advice states that your proposal is exempt, you may lodge an application for a building permit.
If your proposal is not exempt, you have a number of options available to you:
- You may apply for development approval, or
- You may amend your plans to address the areas of non-compliance and submit another deemed-to-comply check, or
- You may amend your plans to address the areas of non-compliance and apply for a building permit. Please note that if you choose this option, an area of non-compliance that was not addressed fully may be identified through the building permit process and you may be requested to apply for development approval
Cancelling a development application or planning approval
There may be circumstances where an applicant or landowner no longer intends to continue with an approved use or development.
This may occur because of a change in personal, business, ownership or operational circumstances, or because the approved activity is no longer being undertaken. For example, this process may be relevant where a Short-Term Rental Accommodation approval is no longer required.
Cancelling an approval helps formalise the City’s records and confirms that the approved use or development is no longer continuing.
A cancellation request must be lodged as an application so that the City can review the request, confirm the relevant approval details and update its records.
How to lodge your cancellation request
To request cancellation of a development application or planning approval, the following information must be lodged with the City:
- Complete a City of Vincent Application for Development Approval Form.
- Attach the required supporting information, previous approval documents and a written request explaining the reason for the cancellation and reference number
- Lodge the application through the City’s online portal or submit it by email to [email protected].
- Pay the applicable cancellation fee.
- The City will review the request and update its records once the cancellation has been processed.
Please note, before lodging a cancellation request, applicants and landowners should identify the development approval that is proposed to be cancelled and ensure they have the required supporting information available.
Fees and processing timeframe
There is a fee associated with the cancellation fees. It is recommended to speak with the City regarding fees.
Applicants should allow approximately 10 business days for the City to process a complete cancellation request. Processing timeframes may vary if further information is required or if the application is incomplete when lodged.
Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) cancellations
Any property with a valid and approved un-hosted Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) Development Approval as at 30 June of a financial year will be classified and rated as a STRA for the following rating year.
Once rates have been levied, the STRA classification and applicable differential rate cannot be applied retrospectively or amended for that rating year.
If an applicant or landowner no longer intends to operate the property as an un-hosted STRA, they may request that the City cancel the relevant STRA Development Approval.
Requests must be submitted and approved before 30 June to enable the City to update its records before the annual rates are assessed for the following financial year.
A request to cancel a STRA development approval confirms that the approved STRA use is no longer intended to continue. If the owner wishes to recommence un-hosted STRA use in the future, a new development approval may be required and the property may again be classified and rated as a STRA in accordance with the City's Rating Strategy and applicable legislation.
More information
A Duty Planner is available to talk to at the City’s Administration Office Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5:00pm, in person or over the phone for any questions you may have.
You can contact the City of Vincent here.