JavaScript is required
Relief and recovery support is available for people impacted by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires.
Visit Emergency Recovery Victoria

Planning Permit Process

By considering planning permit applications, the Head, Transport for Victoria (Head, TfV) can ensure that as land use change occurs, we can plan and protect the State Transport System to create connected communities.

1 – Pre-application meeting

A pre-application meeting with DTP Officers on behalf of the Head, TfV will help identify any potential concerns and confirm the information required to be submitted with a planning permit application to ensure an efficient process.

When to request a pre-application meeting

Where the Head, TfV is a Determining Referral Authority for a planning permit application and the application is likely to have a significant impact on the State Transport System (eg. a new school, a new/expanded shopping centre, a new service station etc), you are encouraged to lodge a request for a pre-application meeting.

A pre-application meeting starts with constructive discussions regarding a preliminary proposal. The aim is to identify any transport issues, transport modelling requirements and/or possible mitigation measures, prior to lodging a planning permit application with the Responsible Authority.

A request for a pre-application meeting can be lodged to the Head, TfV via email.

Information required to be submitted with any request for pre-application advice includes (but is not limited to):

  • A written description of the proposal;
  • Copy of Title;
  • Concept development plans; and
  • A copy of the relevant Planning Report and Transport Impact Assessment (high-level ‘concept’ / ‘draft’ reports may be suitable at this pre-application stage).

2 – Referral

Planning permit applications for proposals with the potential to impact the State Transport System are referred to the Head, TfV by the Responsible Authority under Section 55 of the Planning & Environment Act 1987 ((opens in a new window)the Act). DTP Officers on behalf of the Head, TfV review the planning permit application to assess the impact of the proposal on the operation, assets, and safety of the State Transport System.

Alternatively, notice of a planning application may be provided to the Head, TfV via Section 52 of the Act as part of public notification process.

Section 55 – the Head, TfV as a Determining Referral Authority

A planning permit application is referred by the Responsible Authority under Section 55 of the Act to the Head, TfV in the following circumstances:

  • Where the proposal seeks the creation or alteration of access to a road in a Transport Zone 2 (Clause 52.29)
  • Where the proposal seeks approval for a new electronic and/or animated sign within 60m of a freeway or arterial road (Clause 52.05)
  • Where a proposal is located on land that is affected by a Public Acquisition Overlay (PAO) where the Head, TfV is the acquiring authority (Clause 45.01)
  • Where a new Freeway Service Centre is proposed (Clause 53.05)
  • Where a proposal for a residential development comprises 60 or more dwellings or lots (Clause 66.02)
  • Any other referral trigger which exists in the relevant Planning Scheme

Section 52 –Notice to the Head, TfV

Notice of a planning permit application may be provided to the Head, TfV by the Responsible Authority (or the applicant, should they be preparing their own notice) through Section 52 of the Act in the following circumstances:

  • If the Responsible Authority believes the granting of the permit may cause material detriment to the Head, TfV and its assets; or
  • If the subject land is located adjacent to land owned or occupied by the Head, TfV.

3 – Referral Response

Timeframes

Where the Head, TfV is a Determining Referral Authority under Section 55 of the Act, it must:

  • Request more information within 21 days of receiving the application
  • Respond to referrals within 28 days of receiving the application or further information
  • Give to the applicant, without delay, a copy of any request for more information, and any decisions and comments given to the Responsible Authority

Where the Head, TfV is given notice under Section 52 of the Act, it may:

  • Respond to the Responsible Authority within 14 days of receiving the application if the Head, TfV intends to object to the granting of a permit.

Conditions

Through its role as a Determining Referral Authority, the Head, TfV may include permit conditions in its referral responses to address or minimise potential impacts the proposal may have on the operation, assets, and safety of the State Transport System.

If you have any queries regarding the conditions imposed by the Head, TfV, please contact the relevant officer as outlined in the referral response letter or via email.

Note. the Responsible Authority does not have authority to change the Head, TfV conditions where the Head, TfV is a Determining Referral Authority.

4 – Submit Plans to be Endorsed/Comply

Plans/Documents required to be Endorsed

Planning Permit Conditions may specify that relevant plans and/or document need to be prepared to the satisfaction of the Head, TfV and Endorsed by the Responsible Authority.

For all relevant plans/documents required to be Endorsed, please ensure they are submitted to the Responsible Authority in accordance with the Permit Conditions. The relevant plans/documents can be provided by the Responsible Authority to the Head, TfV for review via email.

Plans/Documents required to be Approved by the Head, TfV

Planning Permit Conditions may specify that documents need to be approved by the Head, TfV but are not required to be Endorsed by the Responsible Authority.

In these circumstances, please read the condition/s carefully and once prepared submit the relevant documents to the Head, TfV for review via email.

DTP Officer’s on behalf of the Head, TfV will review and advise in writing when the relevant documents are approved.

If you have any queries regarding the requirements of the conditions imposed by the Head, TfV, please contact the relevant officer as outlined in the referral response letter or via email.

5 – Secondary Consent/s

Some Planning Permit Conditions may include a Secondary Consent mechanism, which allows minor aspects of the permitted use and/or development to be varied with the written consent of the relevant authority. Secondary Consent mechanisms are phrases such as ‘without the prior written consent of’ the Head, TfV or the Responsible Authority

Request for written consent or minor changes to the Head, TfV in accordance with a Planning Permit condition can be submitted to the Head, TfV via email.

A request for minor change/s to endorsed plans and/or documents by way of Secondary Consent must be accompanied by:

  • A written description and justification of the changes proposed;
  • Updated Development Plans clearly identifying the proposed change; and
  • Updates to any relevant endorsed documents which the proposed change effects.

All subdivision applications and associated requests for Consent for Certification and/or Statement of Compliance must be referred/requested via SPEAR(opens in a new window).

The Head, TfV where a referral authority will provide a response to the Responsible Authority and Applicant via SPEAR.

For general information or queries on the Victorian Planning System, including where the Minister for Planning is the relevant Responsible Authority, please see https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/.

Traffic & transport

Updated

Back to top