Exemptions

Under s46 of the Planning Act 2016, Council may provide, in limited circumstances, an exemption from a development application.

Exemption certificates are only issued under special circumstances as outlined in the legislation. If obtained, an exemption certificate removes the need for a development approval to be obtained for otherwise assessable development.

The certificates are not intended for large-scale or complex developments, or to rectify development that was undertaken without a permit. The applicant is obliged to comply with all other relevant requirements, eg obtain building and plumbing approvals.

An application to Council is required. The applicable fee is listed in Council's Fees and Charges Schedule ( PDF, 0.04 MB ).

A refusal from Council to issue an exemption certificate does not mean the proposed development is not supported in general. It means that your request has not met the relevant requirements of the applicable Act. In such cases, the proposal must be lodged as an application for assessable development under the planning scheme.

View the fact sheet on exemption certificates  ( PDF, 0.16 MB ) for more information.

To lodge an exemption:

• Submit an Application for Exemption Certificate form  ( PDF, 0.07 MB ) ( PDF, 0.43 MB )
• Submit plans of sufficient detail, scale and quality to support the application

The preferred lodgement method is via Council's Development Applications Online portal.