What is a zone?

For the purposes of completing your VicSmart application, you only need to know what your zone and overlay/s (if any apply) are called. You can find out your zone and overlays online here.

What is a zone? All of the land in Victoria is divided into areas called zones by local government – via maps in their planning schemes.The zones indicate whether a planning permit is required to construct a building or carry out works. These zones determine what land can and can’t be used for. They are one of the elements of a planning scheme that can determine whether or not a planning permit is required.

The planning scheme zones land for particular uses, for example, residential, industrial, business or other. The zones are listed in the planning scheme and each zone has a purpose and set of requirements. This information will describe if a planning permit is required, and the matters that the council must consider before deciding to grant a permit. A zone may also specify information that must be submitted with a planning permit application. The zone also contains information relating to land uses, subdivision of land, construction of new buildings and other changes to the land.

Zone Map Legend:
CCZ1 – Capital City Zone – Scehdule 1 – Outside the Retail Core
TRZ2 – Transport Road Zone 2 – Principal road network

A zone sets out land use controls in three sections:

• • Section 1: Land uses that do not require a planning permit. No permit is required for uses listed here.
  • Section 2: Land uses that require a planning permit. A permit will usually be issued with conditions.
  • Section 3: Prohibited uses. Some uses are not allowed on land in a zone because they may conflict with other uses; for example, industry is prohibited in the Residential Zone.

The zone also clearly sets out types of development require a permit. These are known as permit triggers. They specify when a permit requirement is triggered. It will be worded like:

A permit is required:

• • To construct a building or construct or carry out works.
  • To construct a building or construct or carry out works which … etc

Permit triggers also exist elsewhere in the planning scheme, in Overlays and Particular Provisions.

Image Source: Search for a Planning Report Source: Planning: A Short Guide by the State of Victoria