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
Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Brite Legal Family Law, Wills and Estate Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kells The Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law · Coronial Inquests · Wills & EstatesNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(67)Google rating from 67 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Complete Legal and Conveyancing provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(67)Google rating from 67 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Your Lawyers Turner Riddell Hervey Bay - Family law & Wills and estates provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Doncaster East, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Goodwill Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Doncaster East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
McKays Solicitors provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gladstone Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(65)Google rating from 65 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Byrne Lawyers provides legal services in Gladstone Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(64)Google rating from 64 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Yorkins Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Bainbridge Legal provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Baldock Stacy & Niven provides conveyancing services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Debt Recovery · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Carrum Downs, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fountain Law provides legal services in Carrum Downs, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law · Sports & Entertainment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Skaf Lawyers & Notary Public provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+6 morePlanning & Environment · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Planning & Environment · Bail Applications · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ausdoor Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
My Community Legal Gold Coast provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mitcham, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Novum Law Group provides legal services in Mitcham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
TB Law - Ticli Blaxland Lawyers & Conveyancing provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+8 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Elder Law & Aged Care · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Notary Public & JP Services
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Yanner Mann Dobson Law provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Yanner Mann Dobson Law provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Access Legal provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Elder Law & Aged Care
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
The Law Collective provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment
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.
