Codes and guidelines
On this page (in alphabetical order):
A Code of Practice for Telecommunications Facilities in Victoria, July 2004
Activity Centre Design Guidelines
Activity Centre Zone Mapping Style Guide
A 'Good Neighbour" Code of Practice for a Circus or Carnival, October 1997
Alpine Planning Information Kit
Apiary Code of Practice
Building Envelopes Information Kit, June 2003
Code of Practice - Private Tennis Court Development, Revision 1, March 1999
Communicating Data with Colour Guide, April 2011
Continuous Improvement Review Kit
Development Contributions Guidelines
Freeway Service Centre Design Guidelines
Green Wedge Management Plan Guidelines
Guidelines for Higher Density Residential Development
Guide to Ministerial Direction No. 1 - Tendering Provisions for Public Construction
How to Get the Best Out of Planning: A Guide to Facilitating Meetings
Live Music Practice Guide
Model Officer Report and Templates
Planning: a Short Guide
Planning permit applications in potable water supply catchment areas, May 2009
Policy and planning guidelines for development of wind energy facilities in Victoria, July 2012
Safer Design Guidelines
Subdivision Act User Guide
Using Victoria's Planning System
Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP)
Writing Planning Permits
A Code of Practice for Telecommunications Facilities in Victoria, July 2004
This code sets out the circumstances and requirements under which land may be developed for a telecommunications facility, and sets out principles for the design, siting, construction and operation of such a facility.
Activity Centre Design Guidelines
The Activity Centre Design Guidelines will help support councils and developers in creating well designed activity centres in Victoria. The Guidelines will provide advice to developers, planners and place managers on what constitutes best-practice in developing vibrant, high quality activity centres. Published by the Victorian Government in January 2005, ISBN 1 74106 945 9.
Activity Centre Zone Mapping Style Guide, February 2012
Activity Centre Zone Mapping Guide
A 'Good Neighbour" Code of Practice for a Circus or Carnival, October 1997
This code aims to protect the amenity of residents and provide a degree of certainty to the circus and carnival industry by setting out the relevant 'Requirements to be met' if a site is to be occupied by a circus or a carnival for short periods.
Alpine Planning Information Kit
The Alpine Planning Information Kit is an online guide to assist anyone contemplating use or development in the Victorian Alpine Resorts. It outlines the planning process, requirements and expectations about development in the Victorian Alpine Resorts.
Apiary Code of Practice, May 2011
This code was prepared to facilitate the consistent consideration of apiary activities throughout the State.
Code of Practice - Private Tennis Court Development, Revision 1, March 1999
This code was prepared in response to the need for a consistent approach to planning controls over private tennis courts throughout the State.
Communicating Data with Colour Guide, April 2011
This guide explains the issues confronting people who are colour blind in accessing planning information and provides practical advice and tools for preparation of planning documents that meet colour accessibility requirements.
Communicating Data with Colour Guide
Continuous Improvement Review Kit
The Continuous Improvement Review Kit, February 2006 provides a methodology and tools to help councils undertake a review of their planning schemes and planning processes.
Development Contributions Guidelines
Development contributions are payments or in-kind works, facilities or services provided by developers towards the supply of infrastructure required to meet the future needs of a particular community of which the development forms part. The Guidelines advise about the appropriate and practical application of the development contributions system.
Freeway Service Centre Design Guidelines, May 1997
This guideline provides direction regarding the location, design and layout of freeway service centres, with particular reference to safety and access requirements; assistance to local councils when assessing the planning merits of proposals for freeway service centres; and confirms the expectations of the Minister for Planning in relation to the performance of freeway service centres.
Green Wedge Management Plan Guidelines
Also known as 'Principles, Issues and Guidelines for the preparation of Green Wedge Management Plans', the guidelines are provided as additional support material, to assist councils in the preparation of their Green Wedge Management Plans. Prepared for the Victorian Government and published in October 2005.
Guidelines for Higher Density Residential Development
The guidelines provide advice to developers, councils and communities about what constitutes best-practice in higher density housing. Published by the Victorian Government in October 2004, ISBN 1 74106 191 1.
Guide to Ministerial Direction No. 1 - Tendering Provisions for Public Construction
A revised Guide to be incorporated into and read in conjunction with Ministerial Direction No 1 - Tendering Provisions for Public Construction. The revised Guide supersedes Issue 1 of the Guide as well as the previous Practice Note to the Direction, and it became effective on 1 May 2009.
How to Get the Best Out of Planning: A Guide to Facilitating Meetings
This guide sets out good practice methods for using facilitation techniques to get better outcomes for planning decision making.
Live Music Practice Guide
The Live Music Practice Guide page provides guidance to applicants, the community and responsible authorities about how live music and sensitive uses can co-exist.
Model Officer Report and Templates
The Model Officer Report templates have been prepared for councils as a set of standard documents to assist with the process of considering a planning permit application. The report and associated checklists, assessment tables and templates will help to clarify the relevant policy considerations and promote the efficient assessment of applications.
Planning: a Short Guide
Planning: a Short Guide was written specifically for the community and occasional users of the planning system. It focuses on the four most common planning processes - applying for and objecting to a planning permit and applying for and objecting to a planning scheme amendment. The guide is simply written but comprehensive and leads users through the necessary statutory procedures. It is not available in hard copy. See also 'Using Victoria's Planning System' listed below.
Planning: a Short Guide (DOC - 384 KB)
Planning permit applications in potable water supply catchment areas, November 2012
These Guidelines have been prepared by the Department of Sustainability and Environment to assist responsible authorities and water corporations when assessing a planning permit application for use and development of land within open, potable water supply catchments.
Safer Design Guidelines
The Guidelines have been developed to assist planners and designers apply design principles that will improve the safety of the built environment, minimise the opportunity for crime and promote safe, accessible and liveable places. Published by the Victorian Government in June 2005, ISBN 1 74152 003 7.
Subdivision Act User Guide
This guide sets out the main elements and procedures for the approval of plans of subdivision, including procedures for the certification and registration of plans. It aims to provide advice to councils, servicing agencies and referral authorities about their responsibilities under the Subdivision Act and the Planning and Environment Act.
Subdivision Act User Guide, November 2012 (PDF - 926 KB) or accessible Word version (DOC - 162 KB)
Using Victoria's Planning System
Using Victoria's Planning System is a guide for those who use the planning system on a regular basis as well as those who have occasional contact with it. The guide is designed to assist professional planners, officers of authorities, councillors, students, people making an application for a planning permit and people who may be affected by planning proposals. It is a technical guide to interpretation and administrative procedures under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the Planning and Environment Regulations 2005 and their interaction with other related legislation and planning schemes. It is not available in hard copy.
Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP)
The VPP is a source document for the standard provisions and format of planning schemes. More information about the VPP or view the Victoria Planning Provisions. The complete Victoria Planning Provisions may be printed from a single pdf provided at Victoria Planning Provisions.
Writing Planning Permits
Writing Planning Permits provides guidance to council planners who issue planning permits and includes principles and standard conditions.