Planning Permits
Landowners affected by overlays for flooding are likely to require a planning permit for proposed building works to ensure the design takes into account the relevant flood level.
Planning permits enable councils and Melbourne Water to ensure new developments are protected from flooding and do not cause any significant rise in flood levels, which might adversely affect other properties.
There are exemptions from the need for a permit under the Special Building Overlay or Land Subject to Inundation Overlay. Details of exemptions can be obtained from your local council.
In many cases, only portions of properties are affected. The area affected by the overlays can be ascertained directly from the planning scheme. The requirements of the overlay, for example, might only apply to buildings and works proposed within the area covered by the overlay.
You can obtain a copy of the overlays and zones that apply to a property from Land Channel's Planning Maps online.