In Victoria, you need permission under the Environment Protection Act 2017 to conduct certain activities that could harm human health or the environment from pollution and waste. These activities are listed in Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 and are called prescribed activities.
Permissions include licences, permits, and registrations. You can learn more about permissions on our website. A development licence is one type of permission. Its purpose is to prevent and minimise the risk of harm before an activity starts.
When you need a development licence
Under section 44 of the Act, you must hold a development licence for prescribed development activities if you plan to:
- construct or install plant or equipment
- develop processes or systems
- modify plant or equipment (except for general maintenance), processes or systems that create a risk of material harm to human health or the environment.
If you require a development licence, you may apply for an exemption from a development licence under section 80 of the Act. You can learn more about exemptions on our website.
Why development licences matter
A development licence is a preventative tool. It gives us oversight of your proposal before any part of the activity begins. The application assessment process checks that you:
- understand the risks of harm that your activity poses, or may pose, to human health and the environment
- have measures in place to eliminate or minimise those risks.
A development licence does not allow you to operate an activity. In most cases, you’ll need an operating licence after a development licence. Some activities may only require a permit or no permission at all. You can find which permission you need on our website but we always recommend you get advice before applying.
Get advice before applying
Preparing a quality application takes time and money. If you are unsure of the type of permission you need, use our free permission pathway process before you start your application.
Development licence application requirements are complex and depend on the activity. Our pathway advice can help you understand:
- whether you need a permission
- what information you will need to provide in an application.
How long it takes
We have a statutory assessment timeframe of 4 months to assess development licence applications. It can take longer if we need to request additional information to make a decision.
If we issue a development licence, it will be valid for a specified period that must cover all key development phases, including detailed design, construction, and commissioning.
Development licences are an important project milestone. It can take several years for a proposal to progress from concept to full operation. Understanding the process can help you avoid unnecessary costs and delays.
Submit your application well before your planned start date.
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