Planning Scheme forms and documents
The following groups of forms and documents are related to the Gold Coast Planning Scheme and are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF):
- Planning Scheme information
- Pre-assessment requirements
- Prelodgement meetings
- Development applications
- How to lodge a Development Application
- Fire safety
To view the PDF, you will need the plugin or application Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Download at 
Adobe's website.
Planning Scheme information
Gold Coast Planning Scheme 2003 Mail Order Form
You may purchase a copy of the Gold Coast Planning Scheme 2003 in paper format or a convenient interactive CD.
Planning Scheme 2003 Mail Order Form (PDF 136kb)
Planning Scheme 2003 Mail Order Form (MS Word 109kb)- Credit Card Payment Application (PDF 103kb)
Land Use Enquiry
The Land Use Enquiry service provides the enquirer with the Planning Scheme information relevant to a particular site and land use only. The Land Use Enquiry does not contemplate a search of the history of the site, and only considers the proposed use in terms of the current Planning Scheme only. The following information will be provided:
- Domain/LAP for subject site
- definition of proposed use as per the Planning Scheme definitions
- level of assessment for proposed use based on Part A of the Table of Development only
Plan of Development
There are two (2) options available to the customer in relation to the Plan of Development request.
Option 1
The Plan of Development request provides the customer with one (1) copy of the approved Plan of Development only where the site:
- is located within a Special Facilities zone under the former Gold Coast or Albert Shire Planning Scheme and is a continuing approval
- is located within a Special Residential zone under the former Gold Coast or Albert Shire Planning Scheme and is a continuing approval
- has been created through approved combined Material Change in Use and Reconfiguration of a Lot application for the purposes of a residential subdivision
Option 2
This option provides the customer with one (1) copy of the approved Plan of Development as per option 1 above plus, one (1) copy of the associated decision notice, only where that decision notice refers to the approved Plan of Development as the stamped, approved plan of development.
Pre-assessment requirements
Pre-assessment is a free service which allows applicants to lodge quality development applications. Applicants are required to provide their completed proposals for a preassessment check prior to lodgement with Council. This preassessment includes a check of the proposal against IPA Properly Made and Council’s Well Made requirements but it is not an assessment of the proposal. As such, it does not guarantee a specific outcome for the development application (ie. further requests for information may be made during the assessment of the application).
Refer to How to Lodge a Development Application for further information.
Prelodgement meetings
Prelodgement meetings frequently asked questions
The purpose of a pre-lodgement meeting is to provide an opportunity for applicants and Council officers to informally discuss key issues relevant to the assessment of a proposal prior to lodging a development application.
Prelodgement meeting request
The purpose of a pre-lodgement meeting is to provide an opportunity for applicants and council officers to informally discuss key issues relevant to the assessment of a proposal prior to lodging an application.
Please note that forms must be submitted in hard copy to the Town Planning Advice Centre at Nerang or mailed to Council. Faxed or emailed requests will not be accepted.
Development applications
Note: 1. Reference material that does not need to be lodged but provides essential information required for completing the mandatory forms.
How to lodge a Development Application
The following guide is used to assist applicants when lodging Development Applications for either Code and/or Impact Assessment Applications:
- Lodging a Material Change of Use development application (PDF 495kb)
- Lodging an Operational Works development application (PDF 771kb)
- Lodging a Reconfiguring a Lot development application (PDF 494kb)
- Lodging a RiskSmart development application (PDF 485kb)
Well made requirements
The required documents listed for your development type must be completely and accurately filled out with all the information that is applicable to your development. Applications that are not well made will be subject to an additional fee for administering the application. If this fee is not paid, the assessment manager may refuse to further process the application.
Infrastructure Charge Estimates
For estimates of infrastructure charges for Risksmart applications only, the following forms requirements apply:
Note: 2Reference material does not need to be lodged but provides essential information required for completing the mandatory forms.
Infrastructure charge forms
Information sheet - the following information sheet outlines the forms requirements for Material Change of Use and Reconfiguration of Lot development applications and estimates:
- Infrastructure Charges Form Requirements - MS Word version (39kb)
- Infrastructure Charges Form Requirements - PDF version (37kb)
More information on recent changes in PIP forms
The following fact sheet outlines recent changes Council has implemented to simplify and reduce the number of forms that developers must complete to enable infrastructure charges to be calculated:
Infrastructure charge form requirements for building applications
Infrastructure charge forms will need to be completed for some building applications associated with self-assessable development. That is, development that does not require the lodgement of an associated MCU application.
The set of forms usually submitted for a Material Change of Use (MCU) application are to be submitted for such building applications.
Review of site constraints (yield factor) - this form is used to request consideration for a reduction of developer contributions for water and sewerage:
Infrastructure charge/developer contribution rates
Listing of infrastructure charge/developer contribution rates for transport, stormwater, recreation, sewerage and water.
Fire safety
Application for Fire Safety Inspection in Budget Accommodation Buildings
Application form for owner of budget accommodation building requesting advice from Local Government on whether their building conforms with the fire safety standard.
Application for Fire Safety Inspection in Residential Services Buildings
Application Form seeking notification that the premises comply with the prescribed building requirements.
