Yarra Ranges Council Online Services - Pre-application meeting

Pre-application meeting

Request a pre-application meeting to discuss the more complicated aspects of your application.

Last updated on: 05 September 2025

In this article

Before you start
Fees
Information required
Apply now
Do you need help?

Before you start

The pre-application process is a two-way conversation between you (the permit applicant) and Council's planning officers.

This discussion intends to provide you with a better understanding of Council policy. This process also provides our officers with a better understanding of your proposal. After the pre-application process, you should be clear on what Council expects and the upcoming planning process.

If you have no or limited experience with the planning system, a pre-application may assist with a better understanding of the planning process.

From the pre-application process, you will receive:

A clearer understanding of relevant planning policies and guidelines.
Clarification on the planning assessment process.
Merits-based advice to help refine your proposal prior to applying for a planning permit.
A point of contact within the Statutory Planning team.

A pre-application meeting may be useful for advice regarding:

new uses of land
buildings and works relating to business/commercial developments
industrial developments
large scale tourist proposals
Subdivision
native vegetation removal
licensed premises
developments relating to heritage listed properties
car parking queries

Fees

Information required

Prepare for your application by having supporting information and documentation ready.

Information you may be required to include with your application:

A brief written description of existing conditions and the proposal
Sketch or concept plans (site and elevation plans)
A recent copy of title, including any registered restrictions (optional)
Site photographs (optional)
A plan showing all relevant site opportunities and constraints.
Planning drawings, including floor plans and elevations (as necessary).

Where relevant, details of the current use of the land as well as the proposed use. This may include:

The nature of the use(s)
Operating hours
Number of employees
The anticipated car parking requirements and vehicle movements generated by the use/development. This includes staff and visitor parking, waste collection and delivery arrangements
The ESD/sustainability credentials of the use/development. This might include solar devices, water harvesting measures and bicycle parking facilities.
Any other technical information relevant to your proposal. This might include the preliminary advice of a heritage, acoustic or land contamination consultant, for example.

What if I do not have one of the above documents?

The more relevant documentation you provide, the more information and advice the Planning Officer will be able to provide you in the meeting. Submitting the appropriate documents before the meeting will avoid the need for Council to request further information.

Apply now

You will need to register or sign in to start your application.

If you had an account in our previous online services portal (before August 2025) your login details will not work in the new system.

You will need to register and create a new account.

Do you need help?

You can also visit one of our community links or call us on 1300 368 333.

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Application Fee	Amount
Pre-Application Fee - Minor	$282.05
Pre-Application Fee - Major Development	$445.00
Pre-Application Fee - Significant Applications	$800.00