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
Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(204)Google rating from 204 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Davis + Haven Legal provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(191)Google rating from 191 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pathway Legal provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Molendinar, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(188)Google rating from 188 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
QC Law provides legal services in Molendinar, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(179)Google rating from 179 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Ballantyne Law Group provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(179)Google rating from 179 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
HHG Legal Group provides legal services in Perth, 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 · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Partner & Family Visas · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Heidelberg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(170)Google rating from 170 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Andrews • Crosthwaite Lawyers incorporating ASAP Lawyers provides legal services in Heidelberg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Notary Public & JP Services and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(164)Google rating from 164 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
J.W. Lawyers provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Park Orchards, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(159)Google rating from 159 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Madison Sloan Lawyers provides legal services in Park Orchards, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Queanbeyan, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(157)Google rating from 157 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
BDN Lawyers provides legal services in Queanbeyan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+8 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · General Practice (regional generalist)
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(155)Google rating from 155 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Geoff Williams and Associates provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(155)Google rating from 155 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Solomon Hollett Lawyers provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Woy Woy, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(155)Google rating from 155 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Tonkin Drysdale Partners provides legal services in Woy Woy, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Planning & Environment and Family Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 morePlanning & Environment · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dickson, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(153)Google rating from 153 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
NatLaw provides legal services in Dickson, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Skilled & Business Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wodonga, VIC · Hume & North East
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(146)Google rating from 146 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
McHargs Solicitors provides legal services in Wodonga, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Planning & Environment · Commercial Property & Leasing · Probate & Estate Administration · Skilled & Business Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(144)Google rating from 144 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Citadel Agency provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Partner & Family Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 morePartner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(143)Google rating from 143 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hutchinson Legal provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Insolvency & Restructuring · Personal Bankruptcy · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Planning & Environment5 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(142)Google rating from 142 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
FJS Lawyers Adelaide provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Broadbeach, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(141)Google rating from 141 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Gold Coast City Solicitors provides legal services in Broadbeach, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Stirling, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(140)Google rating from 140 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
M & A Settlements provides legal services in Stirling, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(138)Google rating from 138 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Goldman Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Class Actions.
Family Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Class Actions · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Buderim, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hawkes Lawyers Buderim provides legal services in Buderim, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
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.
