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
Bundaberg Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
MRH Lawyers provides legal services in Bundaberg Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Buying or Selling a Business · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Perth Wills Centre provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hastings, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Probate Professionals The provides legal services in Hastings, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adendorffs Solicitors and Conveyancers provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Traralgon, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
bdlegal provides legal services in Traralgon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulverstone, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
FRIEND & EDWARDS LAWYERS provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Planning & Environment · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Property Settlement
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Joondalup, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
HHG Legal Group provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bovell, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
John Williams Law Company Busselton provides legal services in Bovell, WA. 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
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marc Hardman & Associates provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Greensborough, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Burns & Tinney Lawyers provides legal services in Greensborough, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albany, WA · Great Southern
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
HHG Legal Group provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Building & Construction · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Notary Public & JP Services
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Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
MacDonnells Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Planning & Environment, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Planning & Environment+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law · Building & Construction · Partner & Family Visas · Coronial Inquests
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Rye, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McCarthy Partners Pty provides legal services in Rye, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Partner & Family Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 morePartner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lennox Head, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Salt & Stone Lawyers provides legal services in Lennox Head, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
South Bunbury, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
South West Community Legal Centre provides legal services in South Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Taylor Smart provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Immigration & Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
General Practice (regional generalist)+8 moreImmigration & Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law · Debt Recovery · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Skilled & Business Visas
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Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Public Trustee provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coffs Law Co. provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Yass, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Davis Faulkner & Co provides conveyancing services in Yass, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Edmonds & Collins Legal + Conveyancing provides legal services in West Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Eaton, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Garvey Chris Lawyer provides legal services in Eaton, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Planning & Environment · Maritime & Admiralty LawFree 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.
