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
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
Greenstone Legal Albany provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreEstate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Yackandandah, VIC · Hume & North East
Halliday Solicitors provides legal services in Yackandandah, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Planning & Environment · Partner & Family Visas · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
Heydons Lawyers & Attorneys provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
General Practice (regional generalist)+8 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Barker, WA · Perth East
HHG Legal Group provides legal services in Mount Barker, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Planning & Environment and Notary Public & JP Services.
Business & Commercial Law+7 morePlanning & Environment · Notary Public & JP Services · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Agribusiness & Rural Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rosebery, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
JSM Lawyers provides legal services in Rosebery, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Karratha, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Karratha Legal Alliance provides legal services in Karratha, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Corowa, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Kell Moore Lawyers & Conveyancers Wangaratta provides legal services in Corowa, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulladulla, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides conveyancing services in Ulladulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Heidelberg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Melling Legal provides legal services in Heidelberg, 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
Nuriootpa, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Mellor Olsson provides legal services in Nuriootpa, 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
Mildura, VIC · Mallee
Mildura Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Mildura, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreCriminal Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Monaco Compensation Lawyers Noosaville provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & EnvironmentNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Morrow & McKenzie provides conveyancing services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Agribusiness & Rural Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Budgewoi, NSW · Central Coast
Nash Allen Williams & Wotton provides legal services in Budgewoi, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toorak, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Natalex Lawyers provides legal services in Toorak, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Building & Construction.
Wills & Estates+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Banking & Finance
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
National Conveyancing provides legal services in Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreWills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
NEW VISION LEGAL SERVICES provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Strathfield, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
O'Hara & Company provides legal services in Strathfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
O'Sullivan Saddington & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Notary Public & JP Services and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Griffith, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Paula Johns Legal provides legal services in Griffith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
PBL Law Group provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Strata & Body Corporate, Planning & Environment and Wills & Estates.
Strata & Body Corporate+7 morePlanning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing
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.
