Alerts

Planning fees

All fees must be paid when you lodge an application or request.

Applications or requests submitted without the correct fee are returned to the applicant.

Most planning fees are exempt from GST. Where GST is payable it is specified next to the fee type.

Development Contribution Plan levy

The Merri-bek Development Contribution Plan (DCP) levy applies to relevant developments, in addition to the fees below. You can learn more about the DCP on our Development contributions page.

Metropolitan Planning levy

The Metropolitan Planning levy was introduced by the Victorian government on 1 July 2015. You can learn more about this on the State Revenue Office website. This fee applies for planning permit applications that have an estimated development cost of more than $1,271,000. 

The purpose of the levy is to "support the delivery of better state and metropolitan strategic planning" and assist in funding the operations of the Metropolitan Planning Authority, including the implementation of Plan Melbourne.

The levy is collected by the State Revenue Office. It is in addition to the planning permit application fee and must be paid before you lodge a planning permit application with us. You must submit the Metropolitan Planning levy certificate with your application.

The levy is $1.30 for every $1000 of the estimated cost of development. The threshold amount is indexed by CPI for each subsequent financial year. The State Revenue Office publishes the CPI adjusted threshold amount by 31 May each year.

Merri-bek planning officers may ask you to verify the estimated cost of your development if it does not appear to be accurate.

Planning permit fees

Please note: current planning fees apply from 1 July 2024.

Reg 9 Type of permit application Fee
Class 1 Use only – includes waiver of car parking, liquor licences, changes to hours of operation $1453.40
Single dwellings – to use and/or develop land for a single dwelling or undertake development ancillary to a single dwelling (other than Class 7 or Class 8 permit or a permit to subdivide or consolidate land) if the cost of the development is:  
Class 2 Less than $10,000 $220.50
Class 3 $10,001 – $100,000 $694.00
Class 4 $100,001 – $500,000 $1420.70
Class 5 $500,001 – $1,000,000 $1535.00
Class 6 $1,000,001 – $2,000,000 (cost of works over $2m, Class 12-15 fees apply) $1649.30
VicSmart applications  
Class 7 Less than $10,000 $220.50
Class 8 $10,000+ $473.60
Class 9 VicSmart subdivision/consolidate land application $220.50
Class 10 VicSmart other than a Class 7, 8 or 9 $220.50
Other developments – buildings and works to 2 or more dwellings, advertising signs, commercial or industrial, if the estimated cost of development included in the application is:  
Class 11 Less than $100,000 $1265.60
Class 12 $100,001 – $1,000,000 $1706.50
Class 13 $1,000,001 – $5,000,000 $3764.10
Class 14 $5,000,001 – $15,000,000 $9593.90
Class 15 $15,000,001 – $50,000,000 $28,291.70
Class 16 $50,000,000 + $63,589.00


If you decide not to proceed with your planning permit application, you may be entitled to a part refund of the fee you paid. To be considered for a refund, write to the planner considering your application, including an explanation of why the refund is being requested.

The table below demonstrations how the refund amounts for planning permit applications will be calculated, during the time period between 1/7/2024 – 30/6/2025.  

Refund criteria Refund value
Refund following a withdrawal of the planning permit application (includes a secondary consent application) when no assessment has commenced. All fees exceeding a $185 administration charge
Following a withdrawal of the planning permit application when assessment has commenced but prior to Public Notice 25% of the application fee
Following a withdrawal of planning permit application after Public Notice No refund
Refund of Other Planning Related Application Fees
(Note:No refund is applicable for the Public Notice costs or requests for copies of plans)		 25% Of application Fee

 

Combined permit applications

The fee for an application for any combination of land use application, development (buildings and works), subdivision application or any other matter referred is the sum arrived at by adding the highest fee (which would have applied if separate applications were made) plus 50 per cent of each of the other fees.

Subdivision permit fees

  Subdivision Fee
Class 17, Class 18 and Class 19 To subdivide an existing building, land into 2 lots, realign boundaries or consolidate 2 or more lots. $1453.40
Class 20 To subdivide land into 3 – 100 lots $1453.40
  To subdivide land into 101 – 200 lots $2906.80
  To subdivide land into 201 – 300 lots $4360.20
  To subdivide land into 301 – 400 lots $5831.60
  Note: $1337.70 per 100 lots created (401 or more lots, contact us)  
Class 21 To:
a) create, vary or remove a restriction within the meaning of the Subdivision Act 1988; or
b) create or remove a right of way; or
c) create, vary or remove an easement other than a right of way; or
d) vary or remove a condition in the nature of an easement (other than right of way) in a Crown grant.		 $1453.40
 Reg 6 Certification for Subdivision $192.70
 Reg 7 Alteration of plan under Section 10(2) (prior to certification) $122.50
 Reg 8 Recertification $155.10

Amended permit fees

Reg 11 Type of amendment Fee
Class 1 Application to amend a permit to use land (change of use – includes waiver of parking, liquor licensing, changes to hours of operation) $1453.40
Class 2 Application to amend a permit (except a permit for a single dwelling) to: Change what the permit allows, or to change any or all of the conditions $1453.40
Single dwellings – an application to amend a permit for buildings and works to a single dwelling or ancillary. Fee is based on the additional cost of works:  
Class 3 Less than $10,000 $220.50
Class 4 $10,001 – $100,000 $694.00
Class 5 $100,001 – $500,000 $1420.70
Class 6 $500,001 – $2,000,000 (over $2m, Class 12 fee applies) $1535.00
VicSmart amendments (based on additional cost of works)  
Class 7 Less than $10,000 $220.50
Class 8 $10,000+ $473.60
Class 9 VicSmart amend subdivision or consolidate land application $220.50
Class 10 Amend any other VicSmart permit (i.e. Class 10 permit) $220.50
Other development – an application to amend a permit is based on the additional cost of works:  
Class 11 Less than $100,000 $1265.60
Class 12 $100,001 – $1,000,000 $1706.50
Class 13 $1,000,001 or more $3764.10
Subdivision – an application to amend a subdivision permit:  
Class 14, Class 15, Class 16 Subdivide an existing building, land into 2 lots, realign common boundary and consolidation $1453.40
Class 17 Subdivide land into 3 – 100 lots $1453.40
  Subdivide land into 101 – 200 lots $2906.80
  Subdivide land into 201 – 300 lots $4360.20
  Subdivide land into 301 – 400 lots $5813.60
  Note: fee based on $1318.10 per 100 lots created.  
Class 18 To:
a) create, vary or remove a restriction within the meaning of the Subdivision Act 1988; or
b) create or remove a right of way; or
c) create, vary or remove an easement other than a right of way; or
d) vary or remove a condition in the nature of an easement (other than a right of way) in a Crown grant		 $1453.40

Fees to amend an application prior to a decision being made on the application

Reg 12 Amend an application to amend a permit after notice has been given S57(3)A (revised plans after advertising is issued)
If there is no change of class, the fee is 40% of the application fee for that class of permit. If the class of permit changes, the fee is 40% of the application fee for the new class of permit plus any difference in fees between the original class and the new class.

Other planning fees

Action Fee
Request to amend plans or other documents pursuant to secondary consent powers of a planning permit –

 
Additional fee for retrospective secondary consent applications
 $347.00
   
Single dwellings – an application for secondary consent to amend plans for buildings and works to a single dwelling which has its own title.  Fee is based on the additional cost of works:  
Less than $10,000 $220.50
$10,001 – $100,000 $694.00
$100,001 – $500,000 $1420.70
$500,001 – $2,000,000 $1535.00
   
VicSmart amendments (based on additional cost of works)  
Less than $10,000 $220.50
$10,000+ $473.60
VicSmart amend subdivision or consolidate land application $220.50
Amend any other VicSmart permit (i.e. Class 10 permit) $220.50
   
Other development – an application for secondary consent to amend a permit is based on the additional cost of works:  
Less than $20,000 $694.00
$20,001-$100,000 $1265.60
$100,001 – $1,000,000 $1706.50
$1,000,001 or more $3764.10
   
Subdivision – an application for secondary consent to amend a subdivision permit:  
Subdivide an existing building, land into 2 lots, realign common boundary and consolidation $1453.40
Subdivide land into 3 – 100 lots $1453.40
Subdivide land into 101 – 200 lots $2906.80
Subdivide land into 201 – 300 lots $4360.0
Subdivide land into 301 – 400 lots $5813.50
To:
a) create, vary or remove a restriction within the meaning of the Subdivision Act 1988; or
b) create or remove a right of way; or
c) create, vary or remove an easement other than a right of way; or
d) vary or remove a condition in the nature of an easement (other than a right of way) in a Crown grant		 $1453.40
   
Pre-application meeting fees  
Pre-application advice - Commerical Priority $189.00
Pre-application advice - Ministerial Application >$30ml $3665.00
Pre-application advice - VicSmart, dwelling extension and single dwelling $189.00
2–6 dwellings $404.50
7+ dwellings $580.00
20+ dwellings $845.00
   
Administrative fees  
Resubmission of plans (to satisfy permit conditions): first set free (this includes an opportunity to resubmit if requested by the planner); second and subsequent sets $350.00
Subdivision bond administrative fee (GST inclusive) $1100.00
   
Extension of time to a planning permit  
Commercial or industrial use and/or development $446.50
Subdivision $456.00
1 dwelling (includes dwelling extensions and alterations) $336.00
2 – 9 dwellings $716.00
10 – 19 dwellings $1180.00
20+ dwellings $1800.00
Second and subsequent extension of time request (charged in addition to base fee) $106.00
   
Other Statutory fees    
Matters to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority $359.30
Certificate of Compliance $359.30
Application to amend or end a Section 173 agreement (GST inclusive) $726.70
   
Property enquiries (GST inclusive)  
Written responses from Council to commercial property enquiries $298.50
Written responses from Council to residential property enquiries $189.00
Request for a copy of a planning permit and endorsed plans/documents - residential  $189.00
Request for a copy of a planning permit and endorsed plans/documents - commercial $298.50
   
Planning application register service (GST inclusive)  
Planning permit applications register – per month $76.00
Planning application determination register – per month $76.00
   
Public notification (advertising) of application fees (GST inclusive), Public notice letter by mail  
Giving of 20 or less written notices, 1 – 20 letters $256.00
Giving of 21 – 30 written notices $363.50
Giving of 31 – 40 written notices $470.00
Giving of 41 – 50 written notices $577.00
Giving of 51 – 60 written notices $656.00
Giving of 61 – 70 written notices $775.00
Giving of 71 – 80 written notices $871.00
Giving of 81 – 90 written notices $968.00
Giving of 91 – 99 written notices $1065.00
Giving of 100 written notices or more $1070.00
Giving of 200 written notices or more $2135.00
Public notice by sign on site $62.00
Advertising sign, erection and removal $225.00
   
Photocopying of permits, plans or other documents (GST Inclusive)  
Each endorsed plans A4 and A3 (per set) $50.20
Endorsed plans A1, A2 and A0 (per page) $17.85
A4 plans (per page) $1.85
A3 plans (per page) $3.45
A1, A2, A0 plans (per page) $12.00
Fees current as of 1 July 2024.  

Planning scheme amendment fees

Information about fees related to planning scheme amendments is available on our Merri-bek Planning Scheme page.