Planning considerations when buying a property

Step 1.Zoning and overlay information

Each individual property has a set of planning controls (zoning & overlays) which specify how the land can be used and any restrictions for development types. To find out what controls apply to your property you can:

• Obtain a free property report at www.land.vic.gov.au
• View planning scheme maps at online at the Department of Transport and Planning website which contains information on zones, overlays, state and local planning policies.
• View planning scheme maps in person at the Shire offices during normal business hours.  

Step 2.Restrictions on the Certificate of Title

A Certificate of Title may contain development related restrictions in the form of covenants or Section 173 agreements.

It is important to view a current copy of the title to see if any of these restrictions are present, and if so, to determine whether they might have an impact on any future proposals you would like to carry out on the land.

You can request a current copy of the Certificate of Title from www.landata.vic.gov.au

Step 3.Previous applications & approvals

To determine if there is any history of planning applications or approvals on the property, you can view our Planning Register or contact the Statutory Planning team.

If there are planning approvals that you would like to obtain a copy of, you can do this by making an "Application for Copies of Planning Permits and Endorsed Plans". For further information, and to apply, visit this page: How to apply for a copy of Planning permits and plans - Mornington Peninsula Shire

Step 4.Applications & approvals on neighbouring properties

It is also a good idea to find out if there are any recently approved planning applications on properties adjoining and in the vicinity of the property you are looking to purchase. This will give you an idea of the existing properties and how they may change over time due to development approvals.

This information can be obtained by calling the Statutory Planning team on (03) 5950 1010 or by viewing our Planning Register

Step 5.Planning Advice

If you would like to obtain planning advice for a property you are looking to purchase, the Statutory Planning team can advise whether a planning permit is required.

For a verbal response, call the Statutory Planning team on (03) 5950 1010.

If you are looking to obtain a response in writing, you can make an application online here

Step 6.Contact Us

We're here to help with any other questions you may have.

The Statutory Planning team can be contacted on (03) 5950 1010 or by visiting the Mornington Office at 2 Queen Street Mornington.