Property & Conveyancing
Planning lawyers help with development applications, council appeals and environmental law.
They advise developers, landowners and objectors on approvals, conditions and appeals, and act in environmental prosecutions and land valuation matters.
Planning decisions shape what can be built and where. Appeals and objections have strict timeframes.
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.
Planning & Environment firms in the directory
1,182 firms
West Leederville, WA · Perth CBD
WALGA provides legal services in West Leederville, WA. Listed practice areas include Planning & Environment, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Narrabri, NSW · New England & North West
Webb & Boland Lawyers provides legal services in Narrabri, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Wellners Lawyers provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Bowral, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Wilkinson Throsby & Edwards provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Sutherland, NSW · Southern Sydney
Woodward Wickes Wicken provides legal services in Sutherland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
NSW · Hobart & South
Worrall Peter provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Understand the next step
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.
Provide the address, parties and current contract or notice. Explain whether anything has been signed and identify every agreed date.
Ask which terms, searches and ownership questions will be reviewed. Explain finance, proposed use and any linked transaction.
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.
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.
Seek review before signing where possible. Ask about the actual dates in your documents; cooling-off and completion arrangements differ across states and transactions.
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
Usually, yes, to the state planning court or tribunal, within strict time limits.
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.
Before you sign or bid at auction. Once contracts are exchanged or you've bought at auction, your ability to withdraw is limited.
