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
Kalgoorlie, WA · Goldfields-Esperance
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brookman Legal provides legal services in Kalgoorlie, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Planning & Environment and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cash and Stavroulakis Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newport, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cooke & Hutchinson Lawyers provides legal services in Newport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Elder Law & Aged Care · Business & Commercial Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Edge Legal Group provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dickson, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Headon Legal provides legal services in Dickson, ACT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Blackburn, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Henton Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Blackburn, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Barton, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hwl Ebsworth Lawyers provides legal services in Barton, ACT. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Franchising · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Insolvency & Restructuring
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Johnston Construction Lawyers provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Building & Construction+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution3 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sandgate, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Northside Family Law Centre provides legal services in Sandgate, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
SWS Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Employment Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Neutral Bay, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Toltz Lawyers provides legal services in Neutral Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulverstone, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Walsh Day Mihal Bassett Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. 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 · Administrative & Government Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers provides legal services in Maroochydore, 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
Cowra, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clark McNamara Lawyers provides legal services in Cowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Insolvency & Restructuring and Employment Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreInsolvency & Restructuring · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cowra, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clark McNamara Lawyers provides legal services in Cowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law · Planning & Environment · Insolvency & Restructuring · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Glen Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cumberbatch and Williams Lawyers provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Fremantle, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fletcher Law provides legal services in North Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction · Tax Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Devonport, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Foxfield Lawyers provides legal services in Devonport, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulverstone, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Glynn Williams Legal provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
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.
