Change my approved planning permit

If you want to change your permit you must submit a formal amendment under Section 72 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. 

A Section 72 Amendment is treated the same as a planning permit application and is subject to the same assessment process. Depending on the complexity of the application, this may result in a similar time frame to the processing of your original planning permit.

Before proceeding, make sure you have the following information:

• A full and current (no older than 30 days) copy of your Certificate of Title including the Plan of Subdivision and correct ownership details. 
• A full copy of any registered restrictive covenant or Section 173 Agreement that may apply to your land. 
• A digital copy of your amended plans and supporting documents identifying or listing all of the changes against the endorsed plans

Submit a formal amendment

If you want to make minor changes to your plans, you must submit a Secondary Consent Amendment. When your permit is issued, it includes a condition which enables minor changes to be made to your endorsed plans without the need for public advertising.

If Council considers that the proposed changes would result in any amenity impacts or further material detriment to affected landowners, you may be required to make an amendment application under Section 72 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

If you're not sure if your amendment qualifies for consent or formal amendment, apply here.

Before applying, you need to have the following information:

• A full and current (no older than 30 days) copy of your Certificate of Title including the Plan of Subdivision and correct ownership details. 
• A full copy of any registered restrictive covenant or Section 173 Agreement that may apply to your land. 
• A digital copy of your amended plans and supporting documents identifying or listing all of the changes against the endorsed plans

Apply for Secondary Consent Amendment

If you want to extend the expiry date on your permit, you must submit an application under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

All planning permits have an expiry date. To determine the expiry date of a planning permit, find the date of issue on your planning permit. This date corresponds with an expiry condition that is usually the last condition on the permit.

The expiry condition typically requires that a use or development approved by the permit commences within two years of the date of issue of the permit and completed within four years of the date of issue of the permit.

For example, if a planning permit was issued on 1 January 2020, then the use or development must have commenced by 1 January 2022 and be completed by 1 January 2024.

Subdivisions approved by Planning Permit require that a Plan of Subdivision must be certified in accordance with the Subdivision Act 1988 within two years of the date of issue of the Permit. 

The Subdivison must be completed within 5 years of first certification.

To allow more time to commence or complete a use or development under a Planning Permit, you can request Council to extend:

• The time in which the ‘development’ must commence
• The time in which the ‘land use’ must commence (for example, the date a building must begin operating as a medical centre or shop)
• The time in which the ‘development’ must be completed
• The time in which the Subdivision must be certified

You can request:

• An extension to a Planning Permit any time before the Planning Permit expires
• An extension to the commencement date for development, land use or Subdivision up to 6 months after the expiry date
• An extension to the completion date for development up to 12 months after the expiry date

Council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal are unable to approve requests lodged outside the relevant timeframe.

Request to extend your permit

The first condition on your planning permit can sometimes require further changes to your original plans in order to address Council requirements. Examples of requested changes may include:

• Increasing or reducing the setback of a building from a boundary
• Screening windows or a deck to comply with privacy requirements
• Improving vehicle turning into and out of a garage
• Planting trees

Your permit may also require you to submit other documents such as a:

• Waste Management Plan
• Construction Management Plan
• Contamination Assessment
• Demolition Plan

In addition to the above, you may also need approvals from the City of Ballarat or separate statutory authorities.

Before applying you need to have the following information:

• A digital copy of your amended plans and other documents required against the conditions of your permit

Submit plans required by permit conditions