The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) is the primary statute governing the planning system, including development assessment, environmental planning instruments, plan-making, and enforcement.

The NSW planning system includes several types of Development Applications. Local Development is assessed by local councils or by a local planning panel if delegated. Regional Development is assessed by Regional Planning Panels and covers larger projects such as major residential work or public facilities. State Significant Development is assessed by the NSW Department of Planning due to its economic, social, or environmental importance. State Significant Infrastructure is assessed under Part 5.1 of the EP and A Act.

Complying development is a fast-track approval pathway for straightforward, low-impact development that meets predefined development standards in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP).

An LEP is a statutory planning instrument made by local councils (with approval from the Minister) that sets out land-use zones, permitted and prohibited uses, development standards (e.g., height, floor space ratio), and local planning objectives.

An applicant may lodge a merit appeal in the NSW Land and Environment Court within the statutory time limit (usually 6 months). The Court reassesses the merits of the proposal and can approve, modify, or refuse the DA.

The primary statute is the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic), which establishes the framework for planning schemes, decision-making, enforcement, and appeals.

A planning scheme is a statutory document applying to a municipal area. It includes the State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF), local planning policies, zones, overlays, and particular and general provisions guiding land use and development.

VCAT, through its Planning and Environment List, reviews council decisions on permit applications, amendments, and refusals, hears objector appeals in limited cases, and deals with enforcement matters. VCAT can replace the council’s decision with its own.

Zones regulate the primary land use of an area such as residential or industrial. Overlays add extra controls due to specific features or constraints such as heritage, environmental significance, or bushfire risk.

A permit is required when the relevant zone, overlay, or particular provision specifies that a land-use or development activity requires one. Common examples include construction of buildings, certain land-use changes, subdivision, and works in heritage or environmentally sensitive areas.