Planning lawyers help with development applications, council appeals and environmental law.
firms
1,182
regions
16
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They advise developers, landowners and objectors on approvals, conditions and appeals, and act in environmental prosecutions and land valuation matters.
Why planning & environment matters
Planning decisions shape what can be built and where. Appeals and objections have strict timeframes.
The Australian context
Planning is controlled by state legislation and local councils, with specialist courts or tribunals such as the NSW Land and Environment Court and VCAT's planning list. Federal approval is required for matters of national environmental significance.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(768)Google rating from 768 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Knowbal Migration and Education provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Skilled & Business Visas and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreSkilled & Business Visas · Partner & Family Visas · Citizenship · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Business & Commercial Law · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southbank, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(637)Google rating from 637 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
AB Morison Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Southbank, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Buying or Selling a Business and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBuying or Selling a Business · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(577)Google rating from 577 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Eastside Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(563)Google rating from 563 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
State Trustees provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Probate & Estate Administration, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(544)Google rating from 544 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Provey Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 morePlanning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Building & Construction · Commercial Property & Leasing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Greenvale, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(392)Google rating from 392 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Paramount Conveyancing Practice provides conveyancing services in Greenvale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Strata & Body Corporate.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBuilding & Construction · Strata & Body Corporate · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maylands, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(368)Google rating from 368 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Alpha Conveyancing and Settlement Solutions provides conveyancing services in Maylands, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Property Settlement and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Forest Lake, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(365)Google rating from 365 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Lightning Legal provides legal services in Forest Lake, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(349)Google rating from 349 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Geldard Sherrington Lawyers provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Loganholme, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(346)Google rating from 346 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LEAD Conveyancing Logan provides conveyancing services in Loganholme, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Building & Construction.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Building & Construction · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment
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Loganholme, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(310)Google rating from 310 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
RHC Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Loganholme, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+15 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Buying or Selling a Business · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Commercial Property & Leasing · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Personal Injury · Class Actions · Workers Compensation · Public Liability · Medical Negligence · Military & Veterans Law · TPD & Superannuation Claims
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Collaroy Plateau, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(309)Google rating from 309 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Platypus Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Collaroy Plateau, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(265)Google rating from 265 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Aurelia Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Partner & Family Visas and Skilled & Business Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business Visas · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
South Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(252)Google rating from 252 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Accord Conveyancing provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(243)Google rating from 243 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Flat Rate Settlements provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
St Kilda, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(242)Google rating from 242 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
R.E.T Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in St Kilda, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreLicensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(235)Google rating from 235 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
OMB Solicitors provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Strata & Body Corporate · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Queanbeyan, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(232)Google rating from 232 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
North Herring Lawyers provides legal services in Queanbeyan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroubra, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(231)Google rating from 231 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Conveyancing Solutions & Legal provides conveyancing services in Maroubra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(219)Google rating from 219 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marsdens Law Group provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Medical Negligence
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(207)Google rating from 207 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
AKN & Associates provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Immigration & Visas · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Understand the next step
A practical guide to planning & environment
What to discuss at the first meeting
Provide the property address, proposed use and any council or agency decision. Planning advice should identify the actual application, approval or enforcement issue rather than assume all land can be used the same way.
Ask about applicable objection or review dates before relying on informal discussions.
How the engagement may progress
01
Provide the address, parties and current contract or notice. Explain whether anything has been signed and identify every agreed date.
02
Ask which terms, searches and ownership questions will be reviewed. Explain finance, proposed use and any linked transaction.
03
Agree who communicates with agents, lenders and the other side. Confirm how documents are approved and what happens if the matter is delayed or disputed.
Fees and the scope of work
Separate legal fees from searches, registration, taxes and third-party expenses. Complex ownership, negotiations or a dispute may fall outside an advertised conveyancing price.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Seek review before signing where possible. Ask about the actual dates in your documents; cooling-off and completion arrangements differ across states and transactions.
Questions to ask a planning & environment adviser
What decision or approval is being assessed?
Is a planner or other expert also needed?
What is included and what counts as extra work?
Have you handled this kind of transaction or dispute?
What must be decided before signing or the next scheduled date?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can I appeal a council refusal?
Usually, yes, to the state planning court or tribunal, within strict time limits.
Lawyer or conveyancer?
For a straightforward residential purchase or sale, a licensed conveyancer is usually enough. Use a solicitor if the property is unusual, the contract has non-standard terms, or there is a dispute or estate involved.
When should I get the contract checked?
Before you sign or bid at auction. Once contracts are exchanged or you've bought at auction, your ability to withdraw is limited.
Family Property Settlement · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Partner & Family Visas · Commercial Property & Leasing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Planning & Environment
