Planning lawyers help with development applications, council appeals and environmental law.
firms
1,182
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
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.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(207)Google rating from 207 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Stevenson J B & Co provides legal services in Cleveland, 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 · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Dundas, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(203)Google rating from 203 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Marriotts Legal Costers provides legal services in Dundas, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 morePlanning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Property & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(201)Google rating from 201 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Allison Clark Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(200)Google rating from 200 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
V.S. George Lawyers provides legal services in Bexley North, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(199)Google rating from 199 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
KDD Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Ellenbrook, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Strata & Body Corporate.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreCommercial Property & Leasing · Strata & Body Corporate · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(187)Google rating from 187 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
David William Brothers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(184)Google rating from 184 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Strongmark Legal provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Divorce & Separation · Contested Wills & Family Provision
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(171)Google rating from 171 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Walsh Sean provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Partner & Family Visas · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(165)Google rating from 165 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pascale Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 morePowers of Attorney & Guardianship · Traffic Offences · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(163)Google rating from 163 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Mark Stone Solicitors provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment
Mona Vale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(155)Google rating from 155 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
P.J. Donnellan & Co provides legal services in Mona Vale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(155)Google rating from 155 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Queensland Probate provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(154)Google rating from 154 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Clarke hemmerling Lawyers provides legal services in Dulwich, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(147)Google rating from 147 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Conveyancing Lab Pty Ltd provides conveyancing services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(142)Google rating from 142 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Wakefield Lawyers provides legal services in Wonthaggi, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(130)Google rating from 130 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
O'Shea & Dyer Solicitors Townsville provides legal services in Townsville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Personal Injury.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(126)Google rating from 126 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Norton Legal provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+7 morePlanning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Property & Conveyancing · Superannuation Death Benefits
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(122)Google rating from 122 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sargeants Geelong Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Maidstone, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(117)Google rating from 117 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Craig McKay Legal provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+4 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Levis Stace & Cooper provides legal services in Devonport, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Levis Stace & Cooper provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(111)Google rating from 111 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Connor Hunter Law Firm provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law2 languages
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(108)Google rating from 108 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Antunes M C Lawyers & Advocates provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Bankruptcy
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.
