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
Fairfield, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
David Legal provides legal services in Fairfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration5 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: arabic, greek, persian, vietnamese
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Willerby's Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Emerald, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(88)Google rating from 88 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Emerald Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Emerald, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) · Building & Construction · Family Property Settlement
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brookvale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
The Property Practice provides legal services in Brookvale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Wonderley & Hall provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(85)Google rating from 85 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Than & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West End, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(84)Google rating from 84 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Direct Lawyers Wills and Estates provides legal services in West End, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(84)Google rating from 84 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lynch Meyer Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Debt Recovery+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Insolvency & Restructuring · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Banking & Finance · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(82)Google rating from 82 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Curae Law provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(81)Google rating from 81 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Aughtersons Solicitors provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Glen Iris, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(80)Google rating from 80 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ACG Stonnington Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Glen Iris, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Turner, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(80)Google rating from 80 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Tetlow Legal provides legal services in Turner, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(76)Google rating from 76 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
DSA Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Commercial Litigation · Planning & Environment · Debt Recovery · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(76)Google rating from 76 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Joseph Grassi + Associates provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(75)Google rating from 75 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Corestone Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction · Planning & Environment · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Franchising
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Clyde North, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(75)Google rating from 75 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Spirit Legal provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Martha, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(74)Google rating from 74 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Olivetree Legal provides legal services in Mount Martha, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Renson Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Franchising · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment · Contract Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tarneit, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Scott Legal provides legal services in Tarneit, 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 · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(72)Google rating from 72 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Croy Legal provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(71)Google rating from 71 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clairs Keeley Lawyers provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
