Land zones used in our municipality are standard across Victoria. This means that Business Zone 1 is the same here as it is in Ballarat, Melbourne or Mildura.

Each district in Victoria has a Planning Scheme - our area is covered by the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme (GGPS).

The GGPS has a number of sections to help you understand the scheme with the most important being:

• State Planning Policy Framework - Contains strategic issues of State importance when decisions are made

• Local Planning Policy Framework - The framework identifies long term directions about land use and development in the municipality and provides the rationale for the zone and overlay requirements and particular provisions in the scheme.

• Zones - Each zone sets out requirements which must be met.

• Overlays - Each overlay sets out additional requirements which must be met.

• Particular Provisions - Show requirements for specific uses and developments.

• General Provisions - Provide information on the administration of this scheme and other related matters.

• Definitions

• Incorporated Documents

Each section has a drop-down menu to select the various options.

Zones

Zones in Victoria include, for example:

• Residential

• General Residential Zone

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone

• Low Density Residential Zone

• Mixed Use Zone

• Township Zone

• Residential Growth Zone

• Industrial

• Industrial 1

• Industrial 2

• Industrial 3

• Business

• Commercial Zone 1

• Commerical Zone 2

• Rural

• Rural Living Zone

• Rural Conservation Zone

• Farming Zone

Overlays

Properties may also have Overlays in addition to their zone:

• Environmental and Landscape

• Environmental Significance

• Vegetation Protection

• Significant Landscape

• Heritage and Built Form

• Heritage

• Design and Development

• Development Plan

• Land Management

• Floodway

• Land Subject to Inundation

• Special Building

• Bushfire Management

• Other

• Public Acquisition

• Environmental Audit

• Road Closure

• Restructure 

• Development Contributions Plan

• Parking Overlay

• Specific Controls Overlay

Zones, overlays and your property

When buying or developing a property, the zone and overlays are very important and must be considered.

Your zone will specify what is:

• permitted without a permit

• permitted subject to being approved for a permit

• not permitted at all

Take the time to understand the requirements for your property.

At times the zoning on your property may change. Before this happens, a process must be undertaken which involves all affected property owners. Once approved, the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme maps are amended.

Need to know more...

You can:

• identify your property zone 

• Read more about these zones and overlays in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme.