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.
Older circulars that are no longer current can be found on our archive page.
| Planning circular | Description | Date issued and planning principle |
|---|---|---|
| PS 24-002: Changes to how development costs are calculated for planning purposes (PDF, 188 KB) | This circular 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. | 27 February 2024 Planning Systems |
| PS 24-001: Update on addressing flood risk in planning decisions (PDF, 618 KB) | This circular supplements PS 21-006 Considering flooding in land use planning: guidance and statutory requirements and provides additional information to planning authorities in relation to addressing flood risk in land use planning and development assessment under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). | 1 March 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 23-002: Disclosure of information about domestic and family violence refuges (PDF, 139 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. | 22 November 2023 Housing |
| PS 23-001: Assessing sustainable performance in buildings (PDF, 142 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 22-004: Application requirements (PDF, 120 KB) | This circular advises councils, applicants and practitioners of updated requirements for development applications, complying development certificate applications and State significant development applications made under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. | 1 March 2022 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 21-036: Exempt and Complying Development Codes: asbestos material (PDF, 168 KB) | This circular informs councils, accredited certifiers and the community about standards and requirements for anyone that removes or demolishes asbestos material for new building construction, or the alteration or an addition to existing buildings as complying or exempt development. | 2 December 2021 Resilience and Hazards |
| 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 21-029: Development adjacent to land in a pipeline corridor (PDF, 234 KB) | This circular advises on the mandatory notification and assessment requirements for development near pipelines under clause 66C of State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007. | 2 December 2021 Resilience and Hazards |
| PS 21-028: Amendments to Retail Land Use Definitions (PDF, 333 KB) | This circular is to advise local councils and other relevant planning authorities, community, industry and practitioners of a number of retail land use definitions that were introduced in 2018 to the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006 (and certain other environmental planning instruments). | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-027: Low Rise Housing Diversity Design Guide for Development Applications (PDF, 87 KB) | This circular provides guidance on how and where the Low Rise Housing Diversity Design Guide for Development Applications applies. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-026: Planning and designing for better places: respecting and enhancing local character (PDF, 221 KB) | This circular provides guidance about the tools available to them to incorporate consideration of local character into strategic planning and detailed planning for places. | 2 December 2021 |
| 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 21-024: Amendment to provisions for concept (formerly ‘staged’) development applications (PDF, 237 KB) | This circular provides advice on concept development applications (formerly known as staged development applications). | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-023: State Environmental Planning Policy (Three Ports) 2013 – Planning provisions for Port Botany, Port Kembla and Port of Newcastle (PDF, 323 KB) | This circular is to provide an overview of the key provisions of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Three Ports) 2013. | 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 21-019: Landowner’s consent and notification requirements – Local Aboriginal Land Councils (PDF, 116 KB) | This circular advises planning authorities of the requirements for landowner’s consent and notification for development applications where the subject land is owned by a Local Aboriginal Land Council. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| 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 21-015: Performance monitoring of the planning system (PDF, 153 KB) | This circular advises of the system of data collection on planning and development matters to enable performance monitoring of the planning system. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-014: Minor amendments to local environmental plans using section 3.22 (PDF, 124 KB) | This circular provides guidance on the process for making minor amendments to local environmental plans in accordance with section 3.22 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-013: Transitional arrangements for development control plans (PDF, 162 KB) | This circular is to advise of the transitional provisions applying to development control plans (DCPs) in relation to the adoption of a Standard Instrument local environmental plan, and to confirm previous advice on the one DCP per planning authority per site rule. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-012: Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006 (PDF, 179 KB) | This circular is to advise of the transitional provisions applying to development control plans (DCPs) in relation to the adoption of a Standard Instrument local environmental plan. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-011: Requirements for councils to provide certain planning documents and data via the NSW Planning Portal (PDF, 108 KB) | This circular outlines the requirements and procedures for councils to submit certain planning documents and data via the NSW Planning Portal. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| 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 21-007: Consolidation of state environmental planning policies (PDF, 218 KB) | This circular advises councils, applicants, practitioners, and other stakeholders of changes made to 45 State environmental planning policies (SEPPs) and deemed SEPPs. These SEPPs have been consolidated into 11 new thematic SEPPs. The new thematic SEPPs commence on 1 March 2022. | 2 December 2021 Planning systems |
| PS 21-006: Considering flooding in land use planning: guidance and statutory requirements (PDF, 139 KB) | This circular replaces Planning Circular PS 07-003 and provides information on how to consider flooding in land use planning. This circular also discusses changes to requirements for planning certificates issued under section 10.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and local planning direction 4.3 on flooding, which affects planning proposals. | 14 July 2021 |
| PS 21-005: Changes to State significant development and State significant infrastructure (PDF, 106 KB) | This circular advises councils, agencies, industry and the community of the commencement of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Major Projects) Regulation 2021 and related policies and guidelines. | 1 July 2021 |
| PS 21-003: Increasing section 7.12 levies (PDF, 153 KB) | This circular is to advise councils of the replacement of the Development Contributions Plans – Section 94A Practice Note with the Section 7.12 Fixed Development Consent Levies – Practice Note and details the updates. | 12 February 2021 |
| PS 21-002: Reporting and accounting requirements for infrastructure contributions (PDF, 155 KB) | This circular provides guidance on amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 which improves reporting, accounting and publication requirements for infrastructure contributions. The circular also clarifies exhibition requirements for section 7.11 IPART-reviewed contributions plans. | 12 February 2021 |
| PS 21-001: Improving planning agreements (PDF, 147 KB) | This circular is to advise planning authorities that the department has prepared a new practice note on planning agreements, which clarifies key principles and provides additional guidance on their use. | 12 February 2021 |
| PS 20-003: Payment of infrastructure contributions or levies prior to the issuing of an occupation certificate (PDF, 215 KB) | This circular provides guidance on a new requirement to obtain a document from the local council or, where relevant, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, confirming that all relevant contributions or levies have been paid. This document is required before a certifier can issue an occupation certificate under certain circumstances. | 3 July 2020 |
| PS 19-002: Contributions Plans for Growth Areas (PDF, 140 KB) | This circular is to advise consent authorities must not determine development applications on land that is subject to a precinct plan under State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006 (Growth Centres SEPP) unless there is a section 7.11 contributions plan under section 7.18 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the Act) in effect. | 25 January 2019 |
| PS 19-001: Amendments to Local Infrastructure Contributions Practice Note (PDF, 112 KB) | This circular is to advise councils of amendments to Local Infrastructure Contributions Practice Note to clarify when a development contributions plan may be adopted by a council. | 21 January 2019 |
| PS 18-009: State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004 - Site Compatibility Certificates (PDF, 757 KB) | This circular provides advice about the use of site compatibility certificates under State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004 for community members, developers and local councils on the SCC application, assessment and subsequent development application processes. | 2 October 2018 |
| PS 18-002: Assessment of Local Infrastructure Contributions Plans by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) (PDF, 237 KB) | Assessment of Local Infrastructure Contributions Plans by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The purpose of this circular is to assist councils understand IPART's role in the assessment of contributions plans as a result of changes to local infrastructure contributions and Local Infrastructure Growth Scheme arrangements. | 29 January 2018 |
| 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 |
| PS 11-007: Voluntary Planning Agreements and Development Control Plans (PDF, 71 KB) | Voluntary Planning Agreements and Development Control Plans. | 18 February 2011 |
| PS 11-004: Special Infrastructure Contribution - Western Sydney Growth Areas (PDF, 64 KB) | Special Infrastructure Contribution – Western Sydney Growth Areas. Environmental Planning and Assessment (Special Infrastructure Contribution – Western Sydney Growth Areas) Determination 2011. Environmental Planning and Assessment (Special Infrastructure Contribution – Western Sydney Growth Areas) Direction 2011. | 7 February 2011 |
| PS 11-001: Amendments to s149 planning certificates related to coastal matters (PDF, 77 KB) | Amendments to s149 planning certificates related to coastal matters. | 24 January 2011 |
| PS 10-014: Local Development Contributions (PDF, 723 KB) | Local Development Contributions. | 4 June 2010 |
| PS 07-001 Consideration of draft SEPPs under section 79C of the EP&A Act (section 4.15 of the current Act) (PDF, 40 KB) | This circular is to advise consent authorities that certain draft State environmental planning policies are no longer required to be taken into consideration when determining development applications. | 11 January 2007 |
| PS 06-020: Changes to the application of section 94A of the EP&A Act – ministerial direction (PDF, 42 KB) | This circular is to advise councils and the planning and development industry of recent changes affecting section 94A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (section 7.12 of the current Act). | 6 December 2006 |
| PS 06-011: Changes to the public notice requirements for planning agreements (PDF, 50 KB) | This circular provides advice on a change to the requirements for public notification of proposed planning agreements under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. | 18 April 2006 |
| Circular No. D6 (PDF, 11 MB) | This circular is currently in effect and replaces the previous Circular No.D6 which was issued by the Department of Planning on 28 April 1993. It suggests procedures for Crown agencies and consent authorities prior to lodging DAs, provides policy advice on conditions of consent for appropriate Crown DAs, notes the availability of the provisions of sections 91(3A), 91(3B), 91AA and 91AB (sections 4.46, and 4.47 of the current Act) and advises on the policy on inappropriate conditions of consent. | 21 September 1995 |