How to get planning and development advice
Do you need assistance with your development application or require further information? There are a number of ways to get help.
Prelodgement advice on development applications
Prelodgement meetings provide you with advice and assistance in the early stages of planning and designing a development proposal and can help to identify key issues. Prelodgement meetings are not intended to investigate every detail covered through the formal assessment process, however Brisbane City Council officers will indicate if the proposal is likely to gain support.
Council offers two types of prelodgement services.
Simple prelodgement advice
If you are a residential applicant, you can book a free 15 minute meeting with a Town Planner to answer simple questions about your proposal. You can also find out:- what information you need to provide with your application
- what fees you will need to pay
- how the development process will work
Verbal advice only will be provided at these meetings. If you require a written response to your enquiry, then you will need to lodge a Request for Written Information.
Complex prelodgement advice
For more complex enquiries, you can arrange a prelodgement meeting with Council officers. Professional applicants are particularly encouraged to use this process.
These meetings incur a fee and incorporate specialists from relevant areas. The cost of the prelodgement fee will be deducted from the application fee if the application is lodged within 12 months of the prelodgement meeting.
These meetings help identify relevant issues, ensure your application is on the right track and help Council to assess your application quickly.
To request a prelodgement meeting, you can download the Development Assessment prelodgement meeting request form - CC1944 (PDF - 76kb).
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The prelodgement meeting request form can be lodged via email provided Council's guidelines for electronic applications are followed.
Request for written information
Requests for advice in writing are available for a fee. A Request for Written Information can be submitted:
- By email to dalodgement@brisbane.qld.gov.au (please ensure Council’s guidelines for electronic applications are followed)
- In person or by mail to the Regional Business Centre or Central Business Centre
The request will be reviewed by a suitably qualified officer and a response will be provided in writing (via email or mail) within 20 business days.
Examples of advice that might be sought through this process include:
- site specific planning interpretation, such as level of assessment
- confirmation of “generally in accordance” relating to existing approvals
- an opportunity to view or obtain copies of past development approvals
- confirmation of unlawful and lawful use rights
- clarification of Building Location Envelope or Building Envelope requirements
- confirmation of home business self assessable requirements
You can also request an estimate of infrastructure charges for a proposed development by completing a Request for Adopted Infrastructure Charges Estimate.
