Getting subdivision approval from the council is one of the most important — and often most misunderstood — steps in the development process. While many landowners focus on lot size and zoning, councils assess a much broader set of criteria when deciding whether to approve your subdivision.
Understanding what they’re looking for (and how to address it clearly) can help you avoid delays, save money, and boost your chances of fast approval.
At iSubdivide, we’ve helped hundreds of clients get their subdivision applications approved across Victoria. Here’s what councils are really assessing — and how to prepare a winning application.
1. Zoning Compliance
✅ What councils check:
Is subdivision allowed under your current zoning? Different zones (e.g. General Residential, Neighbourhood Residential, Low-Density Residential) have different subdivision rules — including minimum lot sizes, dwelling density, and land use restrictions.
✅ How to get faster approval:
Make sure your proposal aligns 100% with the intent of the zoning.
👉 Order a Site Assessment with us to check zoning and development potential.
2. Overlays and Site Constraints
✅ What councils check:
Even if zoning allows subdivision, overlays can trigger extra requirements or restrictions. These may include:
- Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO)
- Flood Overlay
- Heritage Overlay
- Environmental Significance Overlay
✅ How to get faster approval:
Identify overlays early. In most cases, you’ll need to engage specific consultants (e.g. a bushfire risk assessor or engineer) and include their reports in your application.
👉 A professional Site Assessment Report will map all relevant overlays and tell you exactly what’s required.
3. Lot Design and Access
✅ What councils check:
- Does every new lot have legal and practical access to a road?
- Is there enough street frontage or space for a driveway?
✅ How to get faster approval:
Design access and lot shapes to meet council standards from the start. Consider future vehicle turning space, fire access, and waste collection.
4. Infrastructure and Services
✅ What councils check:
- Can each lot be connected to water, sewer, power, and stormwater?
- Are upgrades to mains or pipes needed?
- Is there capacity in local services to support new lots?
5. Planning Quality and Completeness
✅ What councils check:
Councils assess the overall quality of your planning application. Missing documents, vague designs, or unclear site plans almost always result in delays or refusals.
✅ How to get faster approval:
Submit a complete and professional application pack — including:
- Feature & level survey
- Site plan
- Subdivision layout
- Planning report
- Any required consultant inputs (e.g. traffic, flood, bushfire)
👉 Our team at iSubdivide can coordinate this for you and ensure all boxes are ticked before submission.
✅ Fast-Track Your Approval: Start with the Right Tools
Before you spend thousands on plans or consultants, use the right tools to check feasibility:
🔹 Subdivision Calculator — Find out approximate costs to obtain the appropriate permits
🔹 Site Assessment Report — Get zoning, overlays, access, all reviewed in one place
🔹FREE Victorian Residential Property Development Checklist — Stay organised and confident at every step
Need help with council approval?
Our team at iSubdivide can handle everything — from feasibility to final lodgement. We know what councils want, and how to present it professionally. Let us take the guesswork (and the paperwork) off your hands.
📞 Talk to us today and move your subdivision forward — faster.