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
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
JDL Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Jess Bourke Legal provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kalde Legal provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment · Buying or Selling a Business · Intellectual Property & Trade MarksFree first consult
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Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kanoon Law Group - Solicitors provides legal services in Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Citizenship · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Personal InjuryFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kiama, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kells The Lawyers provides legal services in Kiama, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Coronial Inquests · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Clare, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mellor Olsson provides legal services in Clare, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Medical Negligence · Planning & Environment · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Berri, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
O'Briens Solicitors provides legal services in Berri, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
O'Connor Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sessions Legal provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sutton Family Law provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tehan George & Co - Law Firm - Euroa provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tiernan Lawyers provides legal services in Cronulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, De Facto Relationships and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreDe Facto Relationships · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Debt Recovery
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Port Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★2.5(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Behan Legal provides legal services in Port Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Belbridge Fleming Law provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Deakin, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Campbell & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Deakin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DB & Co Legal provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Diamond Legal and Conveyancing provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBuilding & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Strata & Body Corporate · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tewantin, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Donald Portbury & Co provides legal services in Tewantin, QLD. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Elder Law & Aged Care · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts
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Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ESTHER TAN LAWYERS & NOTARY PUBLIC provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hwl Ebsworth Lawyers provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. 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
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
J P O'Neill provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
K E Roussos and Associates Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Traffic Offences · Drug Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
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.
