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
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Planning & Environment · Bail Applications · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Proctor Graham Lawyers provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Carswell and Company Maryborough provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & GuardianshipFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coast & Country Legal (Incorporating Tim Williams Property Lawyers) provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Springfield Central, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LadyBird Wills & Estates provides legal services in Springfield Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+5 morePlanning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mallesons Stephen Jaques provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Class Actions.
Business & Commercial Law+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Class Actions · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Banking & Finance · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rice More & Gibson provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gawler South, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Steven M Clark Lawyers provides legal services in Gawler South, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Planning & Environment · Debt Recovery · General Practice (regional generalist)Free 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
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Donovan Oates Hannaford Legal + Conveyancing provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Banking & Finance · Elder Law & Aged Care
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
SALBRIDGE LAWYERS PTY LTD provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
TED Legal provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Sports & Entertainment Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Sports & Entertainment Law · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bespoke Legal Group provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Medical Negligence.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Balmain, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
D’Arcy Sloman Peacock Lawyers Balmain provides legal services in Balmain, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Underwood, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stokes Lawyers provides legal services in Underwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Planning & Environment and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kent McRae Lawyers provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Purcell and Purcell Pty Ltd provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Planning & Environment · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Divorce & SeparationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Greenway, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Velocity Conveyancing Tuggeranong provides conveyancing services in Greenway, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ACE LEGAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Family Law Co. provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Planning & Environment and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(29)Google rating from 29 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hobart Community Legal Service provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Centrelink & Social Security and Planning & Environment.
Family Law+3 moreCentrelink & Social Security · Planning & Environment · Employment Law
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.
