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
Carrara, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Muir Lawyers provides legal services in Carrara, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Corporate Law & M&A · Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
TJS Law provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macpherson Kelley provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property & Trade Marks and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreIntellectual Property & Trade Marks · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Insolvency & Restructuring · Franchising2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wood Marshall Williams provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Forster, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Drinkwater Criminal and Family Lawyers provides legal services in Forster, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Drink & Drug Driving.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Drink & Drug Driving · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Traffic Offences
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rogers & Every Lawyers provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ascendia Accountants & Lawyers - Maroochydore provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+8 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Elder Law & Aged Care · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · General Practice (regional generalist)
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Chris Sheath & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Conveyancing Professionals provides conveyancing services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Sports & Entertainment Law · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Malanda, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Malanda Law provides legal services in Malanda, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McGuinness Legal provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Divorce & Separation · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers provides conveyancing services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Insolvency & Restructuring · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Boyarkina Lawyers provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Camerons Lawyers provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Personal Injury
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fishburn Watson O'Brien Solicitors provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Building & Construction · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Harper Davison Solicitors provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kingston, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Morris Legal Group provides legal services in Kingston, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Partner & Family Visas · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sale, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sullivan Braham Pty Ltd provides legal services in Sale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal Law · Personal Injury
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.
