Plan Search Application
What is a Plan Search
- Council keeps records (both electronic and paper) of building-work plans submitted as part of development application
- A plan search lets you view these records to view what has been approved.
- It’s not guaranteed that every plan ever submitted is still available — not all plans/documents have been retained.
- Because of copyright, you may not be allowed to copy or receive a full copy of the plans without permission from the original copyright holder (e.g., the architect).
- Some plan searches can be declined if providing the document “would unreasonably jeopardise the present or future security of a building.”
- For “live” (i.e., not yet decided) development applications, plan documents are only viewable during the public notification period.
Why People Do a Plan Search
- Buying or renovating a property: To check what work was done, whether additions had approval, or any constraints.
- Heritage or character matters: To understand past changes to a property (especially in older suburbs).
- Planning future development: If you're planning to redevelop or extend, knowing the historical approved plans helps.