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
Mudgeeraba, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LB Law Group provides legal services in Mudgeeraba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macquarie Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Maurice Buckley C T Poole & Son Solicitors provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Fortitude Valley, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Suthers Taylor provides legal services in Fortitude Valley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Intellectual Property & Trade Marks.
Property & Conveyancing+3 morePlanning & Environment · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Agribusiness & Rural Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wheelers Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Verge Legal 维智律师事务所 (Melbourne CBD) provides legal services in Wheelers Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosa Heads, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Virgil Power Lawyers provides legal services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Batemans Bay, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ac Lawyers provides legal services in Batemans Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Professional Negligence, Public Liability and Medical Negligence.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Doncaster, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ahura Lawyers provides legal services in Doncaster, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Turramurra, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Alexander DW & Co provides legal services in Turramurra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Building & Construction and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Drink & Drug Driving+3 moreBuilding & Construction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: german
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth Cbd, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Allens provides legal services in Perth Cbd, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Fraud & White Collar Crime2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: korean
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hendra, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Andrew Douglas Solicitors provides legal services in Hendra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bancroft Lawyers provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Tax Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Camperdown, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bcp Lawyers & Consultants provides legal services in Camperdown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+2 moreBuilding & Construction · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brogan & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bundaberg West, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
De Papi & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bundaberg West, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+4 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Narrogin, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Everett W L & K J provides legal services in Narrogin, WA. Listed practice areas include Probate & Estate Administration, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Probate & Estate Administration+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Grindal Legal provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Banking & Finance.
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.
