Planning system circulars provide non-statutory advice on NSW Government principles, procedures and practices to assist in implementing relevant planning laws and policies. Keeping circulars up to date ensures guidance remains current and best practice.
This page lists current planning system circulars in order by date.
Circulars that are no longer current are listed at archived planning system circulars.
| Planning circular | Description | Date issued and planning principle |
|---|---|---|
| PS 26-001: Flooding and land use planning (PDF, 355 KB) | The circular outlines existing flood-related planning policies and provides further information and advice on their application in planning. The circular also provides updates on flood-related policy initiatives underway, including action taken in response to the 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry. | 13 February 2026 Planning Systems |
| PS 25-005: Disclosure of information about domestic and family violence refuges (PDF, 185 KB) | This circular provides information to consent authorities, practitioners and applicants about disclosure obligations when assessing and notifying planning applications for domestic and family violence refuges. | 3 November 2025 Housing |
| PS 25-004: Changes to how development costs are calculated for planning purposes (PDF, 274 KB) | This circular replaces Planning Circular PS 24-002. It outlines changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (EP&A Regulation) to replace the methodology for 'estimated cost of development' and 'capital investment value' with a new, single methodology for ‘estimated development cost’ (EDC) and related changes to other regulatory provisions and environmental planning instruments (EPIs). | 9 October 2025 Planning Systems |
| PS 25-003: Building fire safety measures for tourist and visitor accommodation in the Alpine Region (PDF, 199 KB) | This circular advises consent authorities, agencies, applicants and certifiers of amendments to Chapter 4 of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts - Regional) 2021 and related fire safety standards for tourist and visitor accommodation in the Kosciuszko Alpine Region. These changes commenced on 1 October 2025. | 1 October 2025 Planning Systems |
| PS 25-001: Best practice consultation of draft conditions of consent prior to determination (PDF, 153 KB) | This circular advises as best practice councils should provide the draft conditions of consent to the applicant, where the development application will result in 30 or more dwellings, for the applicant’s review prior to determination. | 7 April 2025 Planning Systems |
| PS 24-007: Consideration of proposed EPIs under section 4.15(1)(a)(ii) of the EP&A Act (PDF, 143 KB) | This circular advises consent authorities about the need to consider proposed environmental planning instruments when determining a development application. | 16 December 2024 Planning Systems |
| PS 24-005: Development near high pressure pipelines (PDF, 186 KB) | This circular advises councils and developers of the mandatory notification and assessment requirements for development near pipelines listed under section 2.77 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021. It also advises on the automatic notification and local planning direction for those pipelines. | 1 August 2024 Planning Systems |
| PS 23-003: In-fill affordable housing under State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (PDF, 164 KB) | This circular provides information to councils, practitioners and applicants about the application of the in-fill affordable housing provisions under State Environment Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (Housing SEPP). | 14 December 2023 Planning Systems |
| PS 23-001: Assessing sustainable performance in buildings (PDF, 161.5 KB) | This circular advises councils, statutory planners and private certifiers how to assess the sustainable performance of residential buildings (through the development application or complying development pathway), and non-residential buildings (through the development application pathway and subsequent approvals) where the State Environmental Planning Policy (Sustainable Buildings) 2022 applies. | September 2023 Planning systems |
| PS 22-003: Independent reviews of plan-making decisions (PDF, 108 KB) | This circular replaces Planning Circular PS 18-012 and provides updates and advice in relation to changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the EP&A Act). | 26 January 2022 Planning systems |
| PS 22-002: Delegation of plan making decisions (PDF, 109 KB) | This circular replaces Planning Circular PS 21-004 and updates councils and the public about delegations of plan making functions under Part 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for the Rezoning Review process. | 26 January 2022 Planning systems |
| PS 22-001: Independent review of planning proposals for identified Aboriginal land (PDF, 370 KB) | This circular replaces Planning Circular PS 21-032. The purpose of this circular is to advise councils and the public about the independent review process for plan-making decisions under Part 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for land identified in Chapter 3: Aboriginal Land of State Environmental Planning Policy (Planning Systems) 2021. | 26 January 2022 Planning systems |
| PS 21-038: Regulating expansion of schools (PDF, 500 KB) | This circular advises councils, applicants and practitioners on the application of certain conditions of consent that regulate the expansion of schools in NSW. | 2 December 2021 Transport and Infrastructure |
| PS 21-037: Guidance for centre-based child care facilities (PDF, 197 KB) | This circular advises councils, practitioners and applicants on the relationship between the State Environmental Planning Policy (Educational Establishments and Child Care Facilities) 2017, the Child Care Planning Guideline, and development control plans. | 2 December 2021 Transport and Infrastructure |
| PS 21-035: Planning certificates: loose-fill asbestos material (PDF, 153 KB) | This circular provides councils with guidance on section 10.7 planning certificate notations relating to loose-fill asbestos ceiling insulation in residential dwellings. | 2 December 2021 Resilience and Hazards |
| PS 21-034: Planning certificates: contaminated land (PDF, 100 KB) | This circular provides guidance on information required to be included in planning certificates issued under section 10.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 in relation to contaminated land. | 2 December 2021 Resilience and Hazards |
| PS 21-033: Planning certificates: coastal hazards (PDF, 139 KB) | This circular provides guidance on the disclosure of coastal hazards on planning certificates issued under section 10.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). | 2 December 2021 Resilience and Hazards |
| PS 21-031: Planning and assessment guidelines for hazardous industry (PDF, 129 KB) | Informs councils and developers of their obligations under Chapter 3 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021 to consider potential hazards when determining development applications. | 2 December 2021 Resilience and Hazards |
| PS 21-030: Planning certificates: biodiversity and native vegetation (PDF, 101 KB) | This circular provides guidance on information required to be included in planning certificates issued under section 10.7 of the EP&A Act in relation to biodiversity and native vegetation. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-025: Conditions of consent for fibre-ready facilities and telecommunications infrastructure (PDF, 156 KB) | The purpose of this circular is to advise consent authorities that all development consents (unless exempted) should include conditions to ensure that modern telecommunications infrastructure is provided in respect of all premises to be constructed in developments. | 2 December 2021 Transport and Infrastructure |
| PS 21-021: Caravan parks and camping grounds (PDF, 169 KB) | The purpose of this circular is to provide information on the approval requirements for camping (e.g. in caravans, campervans, motorhomes or tents) on council or other land. | 2 December 2021 Housing |
| PS 21-018: Development near rail corridors and busy roads – interim guideline (PDF, 150 KB) | The purpose of this circular is to advise on the Development near rail corridors and busy roads – interim guideline. | 2 December 2021 Transport and Infrastructure |
| PS 21-017: Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries (PDF, 99 KB) | This circular is to provide advice on the policy to regulate mining, petroleum production and extractive industries in NSW. | 2 December 2021 Resources |
| PS 21-016: Approval to install relocatable and flat-pack homes outside a caravan park or manufactured home estate (PDF, 167 KB) | The purpose of this circular is to clarify the approval requirements for the installation of two common types of transportable home on land that is not part of a caravan park or manufactured home estate. It also clarifies which types of transportable homes require a BASIX Certificate and which do not. | 2 December 2021 Housing |
| PS 21-010 Development on bush fire prone land (PDF, 149 KB) | This circular outlines the planning considerations that apply to development on bush fire prone land, including application to planning proposals, development applications and complying development. | 2 December 2021 Resilience and Hazards |
| PS 21-009: Planning for coastal hazards (PDF, 153 KB) | This circular provides guidance on assessment of coastal hazards under Chapter 2: Coastal Management of State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021 and the Coastal Management Act 2016. | 2 December 2021 Resilience and Hazards |
| PS 21-008: How to characterise development (PDF, 260 KB) | This circular provides guidance in characterising development for the purpose of determining permissibility. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 17-001: Using the Apartment Design Guide (PDF, 430 KB) | This circular provides guidance on the application of the Apartment Design Guide (ADG) in the development assessment process under State Environmental Planning Policy No 65 – Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development (SEPP 65). | 29 June 2017 |
| PS 15-002: Design quality of residential apartment development - SEPP 65 (PDF, 82 KB) | Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development – SEPP 65. | 19 June 2015 |