Occupancy Permit 
The building surveyor who issues the building permit carries out building inspections and issues an occupancy permit or a certificate of final inspection (as applicable) on completion of your building work. You need an occupancy permit before a building can be occupied if the building permit states that one is required.7 For more, see What is an Occupancy permit?

One new building 
An application which involves the construction of a new building, such as a new office, factory or shop.⁷

Other buildings and works
An application that involves any other buildings and works such as road works, bus shelters, landscaping and including dams, septic tanks.⁷

Other vegetation removal
An application involving the removal of vegetation, other than native vegetation.⁷

Overlays
Some land may be affected by one or more overlay. If an overlay applies, the land will have some special feature such as a heritage building, significant vegetation or flood risk. Similar to the zone, the overlay information may indicate further planning permit requirements and additional information which must be submitted with an application for a planning permit.³

Overlooking
Overlooking can occur when a habitable room window, deck, balcony or private open space of a building on a site provides a direct line of sight into another habitable room window or private open space of an existing dwelling on an adjoining site.

In the Planning Scheme, ResCode sets out the standards regarding overlooking of a site on which a multi-dwelling development or development of a dwelling, or addition to a dwelling, on a site under 500 square metres is taking place.

Screening is required up to a height of 1.7 metres above floor level for windows, decks and balconies located within 9 metres of a neighbouring window, decking, balcony or secluded private open space area.⁸

Outbuilding
Outbuildings include a carport, garage, pergola, verandah, deck, shed or similar structure not intended for habitation.

Parcel of land
The basic spatial unit in a Cadastre (land registry) is known as a parcel. Examples of parcels in Victoria include a lot, Crown allotment, road, reserve and common property. In Victoria, individual parcels of land are described in a folio of the Register or, in the case of Crown land, a Crown Land Status Report.³

Permit Trigger
Is a term used to describe the clauses in a local planning scheme that trigger the need to apply for a planning permit. eg: A permit is required to construct or extend one dwelling on a lot less than 300 square metres. An application may comprise of one or more permit triggers.³

Photographs
Labelled photographs may be submitted showing the subject site and surrounding properties including those opposite the site. Photographs help Council to understand the existing conditions of the site and the surrounding area by providing context.⁶

Plans of subdivision
A plan of subdivision allows an applicant to divide land into two or more new parcels of land that can be disposed of separately. The only new parcels that can be created by a plan of subdivision are lots, roads, reserves or common property. All new plans of subdivision lodged with Land Victoria are lodged under Section 22 of the Subdivision Act 1988.

As part of the subdivision process a plan may create restrictions, owners corporations and any easements (including implied easements under section 12(2) of the Subdivision Act 1988) necessary to make a development functional. A plan of subdivision may also remove or vary restrictions and easements (created in an earlier plan of subdivision), with a planning permit under Section 23 of the Subdivision Act 1988.¹¹

Planning and Environment Act (1987)
The Planning and Environment Act (1987) establishes the legal framework for the planning system in Victoria. It includes planning objectives and the processes for changing a Planning Scheme and deciding on a planning permit application.⁸

Planning authority
A planning authority is any person or body given the power to prepare a planning scheme or an amendment to a planning scheme. The Minister is a planning authority and may authorise any other Minister or public authority to prepare an amendment to a planning scheme. The Minister is also the planning authority for land not incorporated into any municipal district, such as land falling under the Alpine Resorts Planning Scheme, Port of Melbourne Planning Scheme, and the French Island and Sandstone Island Planning Scheme.

A council is the planning authority for its municipal district and for any area adjoining its municipal district for which the Minister authorises.¹²

Planning permit
A legal document that gives permission for a use or development on a particular piece of land. ⁵ See What is a planning permit?

Planning scheme
A planning scheme controls land use and development within a municipal district. It contains state and local planning policies, zones and overlays and other provisions that affect how land can be used and developed.

Each planning scheme consists of maps and an ordinance containing planning provisions. The planning scheme is a statutory document and each municipality in the state is covered by one.¹²

Plot ratio
The gross floor area of all buildings on a site, divided by the area of the site.

Private open space
An outdoor area of a dwelling or residential building or land for the exclusive use of the occupants.

Property vegetation plan
A plan which relates to the management of native vegetation within a property, and which is contained within an agreement made pursuant to section 69 of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987.