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
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ADLV Law, Adelaide provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Employment Law and Unfair Dismissal.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreEmployment Law · Unfair Dismissal · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Randwick, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Advanced Conveyancing & Developments Randwick provides conveyancing services in Randwick, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
BDF Law provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Buying or Selling a Business
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Margaret River, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cape to Cape Lawyers Busselton office provides legal services in Margaret River, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Conveyancing 4 U provides legal services in East Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Buying or Selling a Business · Probate & Estate Administration2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Grafton, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gallagher Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Grafton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Phoenix Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Randwick, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Walkabout Migration Lawyers provides legal services in Randwick, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business Visas · Building & Construction · Planning & Environment · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Woolooware, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CGC Law provides legal services in Woolooware, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Jacaranda Law provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Elder Law & Aged Care · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, 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
Dural, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Micara Lawyers provides legal services in Dural, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & ConstructionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sautelle White Lawyers provides legal services in Merimbula, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Midland, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bechelet & Co provides legal services in Midland, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contested Wills & Family ProvisionFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Lakes, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lightbridge Lawyers provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Small Myers Hughes 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 · Commercial Litigation · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Employment Law · DefamationNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legato Law provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Binding Financial Agreements and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lalor, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mahons with Yuncken & Yuncken Lawyers provides legal services in Lalor, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
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.
