Amendment C334yara - Planning Permit Trigger Removals and Exemptions
Amendment to remove planning permit triggers for businesses and implement permit exemptions in heritage overlays.
This amendment is currently on exhibition.
Council will exhibit the Amendment from 15 October 2026 until 11:59 pm on 15 November 2026.
Overview
Yarra City Council is proposing planning scheme changes to simplify application processes for small businesses in Yarra by exempting certain buildings and works, business identification signage, from requiring a planning permit and providing exemptions from notice and review, subject to conditions.
C334 will also allow solar panels to be installed on properties in the Heritage Overlay (in the Incorporated Plan under the Provisions of Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay) without requiring a planning permit, subject to conditions being met.
C334 will align with existing exemptions for residential uses and ease the pathway towards more sustainable energy solutions for buildings in a Heritage Overlay.
It will simplify the application process for local businesses by reducing permit triggers (where appropriate) and/or fast track permits that will have the most impact for small businesses in Yarra. Under the proposed changes, planning permits would be fast tracked and businesses would be exempt from notice and review periods for signage, subject to conditions. The conditions include:
Alternations to building facades at ground level in DDOs and BFOs
Provided that:
- the alteration does not include the installation of an external roller shutter
- 80% of the facade is maintained as an entry or window in a Commercial 1 or Commercial 2 zone
- existing windows and pedestrian entry points are included and/or retained and not increase blank walls in a Mixed Use Zone
Single storey rear additions and outbuildings in DDOs and BFOs
Provided that:
- It is no higher than 4 metres above natural ground level and no Heritage Overlay applies
Single storey rear additions in Heritage overlay
Provided that:
- the property is not graded as Individually Significant
- for Contributory buildings, the works are limited to the ground floor rear walls or rear ground floor sections of the building
- for Non-Contributory buildings, the works are limited to the rear walls or rear sections of the building
Pergolas, verandahs and decks in Heritage overlays
Provided that the pergola or verandah:
- is not graded Individually Significant
- is not a corner block
- the pergola/verandah is to the rear of existing building
- for both Contributory and Non-Contributory buildings:
- does not exceed the eave height of existing single storey or ground floor height of two storey building
- does not exceed a finished floor level more than 800mm above ground level
- does not exceed a maximum building height greater than 3 metres above.
Provided that the deck:
- Is located to rear of existing building
- Does not exceed a finished floor level more than 800mm above ground level
Outbuilding in Heritage Overlay
Provided that the property is not graded as Individually Significant or is a corner block.
- Conditions for the outbuilding include:
- can’t exceed 10 square metres
- is not greater than 3 metres above ground level
- for Contributory and Non-Contributory buildings:
- Is located within the rear
- The eave height does not exceed eave height of the existing building
- Is not attached to the existing building
- for Contributory buildings, it does not extend beyond the line of the side elevations of the existing building
Notice and review periods for business identification signs
Provided that the sign is not:
- an LED, digital or animated sign
- bunting sign (such as, decorative sign for a sale or strings of triangular flags)
- electronic sign
- floodlit sign (a sign illuminated by external light sources)
- reflective sign
Business Identification signage in the Heritage Overlay
Provided that the property or sign:
- is in a Commercial 1 or Commercial 2 Zone
- is less than 1.5 square metres below a verandah, or if there is no verandah, is less than 3.7m above pavement level
- is not LED, digital or animated
This Amendment will allow solar panels to be installed on properties in Heritage Overlays without requiring a planning permit provided that the panels:
- Sit flush against the roof and are not mounted and raised on an angle
- Do not extend past the existing roof line
- Are not installed on a verandah, canopy, bay windows, or similar structure
Additionally, the roof of the building must not have a turret, tower, spire or dormer (a roofed structure, often with a window).
Currently, solar panels on heritage properties do not need a planning permit if they cannot be seen from the street. The Amendment would make it easier to install solar panels that are visible from the street, recognising that they can be installed and removed with little impact on the heritage buildings and character. This proposal arises from a Notice of Motion endorsed at the Council Meeting on 25 April 2025.
Land affected by the amendment
The proposed permit trigger removal for businesses affects all land in the:
- Commercial 1 (C1Z),
- Commercial 2 Zone (C2Z), and
- Mixed Use Zone (MUZ).
The proposed solar panel exemptions affect all land in Yarra (regardless of zoning).
Council Meeting (Authorisation)
Where you may inspect this Amendment
The amendment is available for public inspection, free of charge, during office hours at the following places:
- Planning Counter, Richmond Town Hall – 333 Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121
- Reception, Collingwood Town
- hall – 140 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Submissions
Anyone can make a submission on the draft Amendment. This is an opportunity for the community to provide feedback before the amendment is considered by Council and the Standing Advisory Committee.
Submissions are due by 11:59pm on 15 November 2026.
Online form:
Please fill in the online form at yoursayyarra.com.au/amendment-c334yara.
Email:
Please include “Draft Amendment C334yara Submission” in the subject header.
Post:
Attention Strategic Planning,
P.O. Box 168, Richmond VIC 3121
Please include “Draft Amendment C334yara Submission” in the subject header
A few points to note before making your submission:
- Please provide us with your name and contact details so that we can contact you about the next stages of the process.
- Your submission should indicate if you support, partially support, or oppose the amendment, and you can also outline any recommended changes.
- Please also indicate in your submission if you are providing feedback on, Exemptions for adding solar panels in areas with a Heritage Overlay, Streamlining business permits, or both aspects of the proposed Amendment.
The Planning and Environment Act 1987, requires Council make a copy of any submission available for public inspection. In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 all personal information (including names) have been removed.
The amendment is available for public inspection, free of charge, during office hours at the following places:
- Planning Counter, Richmond Town Hall – 333 Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121
- Reception, Collingwood Town Gall – 140 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
What stage is this amendment at?
There are six steps in the process to consider amendments.
This project is currently at Stage 2 - 'Exhibition' of the Planning Scheme Amendment process.
What has happened so far?
Complete
Officers engaged SGS Economics and Planning (SGS) to assist in identifying opportunities to reduce regulatory burden for small businesses in Yarra (SGS Pty Ltd Report Supporting Local Businesses – Streamlining Planning Permit for City of Yarra dated 21 May 2025).
Officers have also investigated the potential to include a permit exemption for solar panels to facilitate sustainability improvements in Heritage Overlay areas.
This work has informed the proposed changes being made to the Yarra Planning Scheme as part of this amendment – C334yara.
Complete
Councillors reviewed the proposed amendment at a Council Meeting on 16 December 2025. At this meeting, Councillors resolved to formally seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to proceed with the amendment process.
The Minister for Planning will review the amendment and make a decision to grant Council approval to exhibit the draft Amendment in line with the planning scheme amendment process.
Complete
Officers engaged SGS Economics and Planning (SGS) to assist in identifying opportunities to reduce regulatory burden for small businesses in Yarra (SGS Pty Ltd Report Supporting Local Businesses – Streamlining Planning Permit for City of Yarra dated 21 May 2025).
Officers have also investigated the potential to include a permit exemption for solar panels to facilitate sustainability improvements in Heritage Overlay areas.
This work has informed the proposed changes being made to the Yarra Planning Scheme as part of this amendment – C334yara.
Complete
Councillors reviewed the proposed amendment at a Council Meeting on 16 December 2025. At this meeting, Councillors resolved to formally seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to proceed with the amendment process.
The Minister for Planning will review the amendment and make a decision to grant Council approval to exhibit the draft Amendment in line with the planning scheme amendment process.
What are the next steps?
Current
15 October 2026 until 11.59pm on 15 November 2026
Draft Amendment C334yara will be available for public exhibition and submissions. Anyone can provide a submission on the proposed changes made to the Yarra Planning Scheme.
Following submissions from the community, Council will consider them and resolve to submit the amendment and submissions to an independent public hearing, where all views will be heard and considered.
The panel or committee will review the amendment and all submissions and will release a report with recommendations.
All submitters will have an opportunity to present their submission at the hearing.
The following dates have been set to consider this Amendment:
- Directions Hearing: the week commencing 12 April 2027.
- Committee Hearing: the week commencing 17 May 2027.
Council will consider the recommendations from the hearing report and adopt a final position on the amendment. Council would then request the Minister for Planning to make a decision on the amendment.
The Minister will consider the exhibited amendment, recommendations from the committee hearing and Councils adopted position to make a decision on the amendment.
Current
15 October 2026 until 11.59pm on 15 November 2026
Draft Amendment C334yara will be available for public exhibition and submissions. Anyone can provide a submission on the proposed changes made to the Yarra Planning Scheme.
Following submissions from the community, Council will consider them and resolve to submit the amendment and submissions to an independent public hearing, where all views will be heard and considered.
The panel or committee will review the amendment and all submissions and will release a report with recommendations.
All submitters will have an opportunity to present their submission at the hearing.
The following dates have been set to consider this Amendment:
- Directions Hearing: the week commencing 12 April 2027.
- Committee Hearing: the week commencing 17 May 2027.
Council will consider the recommendations from the hearing report and adopt a final position on the amendment. Council would then request the Minister for Planning to make a decision on the amendment.
The Minister will consider the exhibited amendment, recommendations from the committee hearing and Councils adopted position to make a decision on the amendment.
Frequently asked questions
There will be no immediate impact on landowners/occupiers and current planning permits.
The current controls in the planning scheme will continue to apply to existing planning permit applications and any future planning permit applications until the permanent controls are introduced into the Yarra Planning Scheme.
The other tools in the Planning Scheme will continue to apply and will need to be considered when preparing a planning permit application.
The following local provisions and controls currently trigger permits for businesses within Yarra.
Heritage Overlay (HO) (Clause 43.01) requires a planning permit to construct a building and to carry out works. It opts in many categories of applications that would normally be exempt from the need for a permit. It also requires a permit to construct or display a sign.
Standard exemptions in the Design and Development Overlay (DDO) (Clause 43.02) head provisions are limited and only cover residential development. Many older Yarra DDO schedules do not have buildings and work exemptions in their local schedules. However, the new DDOs do include some exemptions.
Currently, solar panels are not exempt under the Yarra Heritage Overlay Schedule, unless they are not visible from the street (as per State provision).
Following engagement between Councillors, officers and several businesses, Council endorsed the Notice of Motion No.14 on the 9 July 2024 Council Meeting. It resolved that Council explores opportunities and advocacy avenues to streamline and simplify processes for local business, and support and promote local businesses and live music. This amendment focuses on simplifying application processes for small businesses in Yarra by making changes to the Yarra Planning Scheme.
In addition, in the Notice of Motion No.6 from 25 April 2025 officers were asked to prepare a report amongst other items regarding facilitating sustainability improvements in Heritage Overlay areas. In response, Officers have investigated the potential to include a permit exemption for solar panels in the Incorporated Plan under the Provisions of Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay.
Further information
To find out more, please contact the Strategic Planning unit.