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
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Avuri Lawyers provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Change Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and NDIS & Disability Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreCommercial Property & Leasing · NDIS & Disability Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Elder Law & Aged Care · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams Lawyers - Mount Waverley provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Insolvency & Restructuring · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Collaroy, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mothers in Law Lawyers provides legal services in Collaroy, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Debt Recovery · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rayners Lawyers provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle West, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Endeavour Commercial & Property Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle West, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fremantle Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Planning & Environment, Building & Construction and Business & Commercial Law.
Planning & Environment+5 moreBuilding & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Murfett Legal provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Insolvency & Restructuring.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Insolvency & Restructuring · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victorian Land Transfers (Bendigo & Castlemaine) provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Finch Legal provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macdessi Lawyers provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Commercial Litigation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Professional Edge Lawyers provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Debt Recovery · Probate & Estate Administration · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Refined Legal provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Building & Construction.
Property & Conveyancing+4 morePlanning & Environment · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Strata & Body Corporate
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robinson & Robinson provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Contract Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreContract Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Strata & Body Corporate2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: french
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Griffith, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
TERRACON LEGAL PTY LTD provides legal services in Griffith, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bundaberg Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Baker O'Brien Toll Lawyers provides legal services in Bundaberg Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Personal Injury · Partner & Family Visas · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ayr, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Connolly Suthers Lawyers Townsville provides legal services in Ayr, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Partner & Family VisasNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Papas Solicitors provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
