Yarra Ranges Council Online Services - Written planning advice

Written planning advice

Request for written planning advice to help guide you on land use and development.

Last updated on: 05 September 2025

In this article

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

Before you start

If you have questions about the planning controls that apply to your site or you would like confirmation in writing if a planning permit is or is not required, you can apply for written planning advice.

This advice can help clarify requirement and support your planning applications by:

understanding what will be required
finding out if you need a permit
learning if your proposal is exempt from a permit.

A request for written planning advice can be made using Council's online services. Include as much detail as you can about your proposal the more we know, the better we can help you.

Your request must be accompanied by the applicable fee.

We aim to provide written planning advice within 10 business days of all required documents and fees being received.

Fees

Information required

You will need to provide as much details as you can about your proposal including what questions you would like answered.

Information you should include:

The site

Current use of the land
Number and use of existing structures, dwellings on the land

Building and works

Details of the proposed buildings and works:

Size of the proposed buildings and works (in square metres)
Height of the proposed buildings and works from the natural ground level
Distance of the proposed buildings and works to a tree within the site or adjoining properties (in meters)
Details of the tree: Trunk circumference in meters at a height of 1.3 metres above the ground
Details of the topography of the land (slope if available)
Purpose of the buildings and works
Setbacks of the proposed buildings and works from all adjoining properties (all sides as relevant) if plans have been submitted are scaled Council will be able to work this out.
The total building footprint of the site in %
Total hard surface area (impervious surfaces) of the site in %
Setback from any waterways (if located within 30meters of the proposed buildings and works)
Setbacks from a designated stream (if any located within 10 meters of the proposed works)
Setback from a designated open Melbourne Water drain (if any located within 10 meters of the proposed works)

Earthworks

Details of the earthwork (depth, distance from existing structure dwelling and non-habitable structures)
Details of the topography (slope etc if available available)
Purpose of the earth work only if it is an earthworks only application if linked to a proposed building application the plans should show this.
Distance of the earthwork from trees within 10 meters
Distance of the works from any waterways in meters (if known)

Vegetation removal, pruning and or lopping

Details of vegetation proposed to be removed:

Type of vegetation (native or non-native)
Details and purpose of removal or lopping or pruning
Trunk circumference in meters at a height of 1.3 metres above the ground

Fence

Type of fence (e.g., rural type fence post and large space open weave wire) Note: Only for a fence planning application
Height in meters
Length of the fence
Percentage of transparency of the fence

Please Note: Further information may be required upon assessment of your application.

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.

Was this page helpful?

Application Fee	Amount
Standard written advice for a residential property	$177.99
Standard written advice for a commercial property	$177.99