ACT

Australian Capital Territory

Planning Act 2023 (ACT) — replaces 2007 Act

Planning instruments

Territory Plan
Single ACT-wide statutory plan — zones + codes + precinct plans. Replaced under Planning Act 2023.
Crown Lease
All ACT land is held under Crown lease — purpose clause + permitted uses are part of the lease, not the planning scheme alone.
Codes
Single Dwelling Housing Development Code, Multi-Unit Housing Development Code, Community Facility Zone Development Code, etc.

Assessment pathways

Exempt

Minor works meeting exemption criteria.

Code track (DA)

Mandatory approval if all code rules met.

Merit track (DA)

Performance-based assessment.

Impact track

EIS required for major proposals.

Lodgement portal

ACT Planning Portal ↗

Mapping portal

ACTmapi ↗

Notable LGAs

Canberra (single ACT-wide jurisdiction — no separate LGAs)

Fire safety authority

ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA); ACT-wide bushfire risk per Bushfire Operations Plan

Surveyor body

Surveyors Board of the ACT

Builder regulation

Access Canberra (building practitioner licensing)

Owner-builder threshold

Owner-Builder Construction Licence required for work over A$5,000; one-per-property-lifetime

Notes

ACT has no LGAs — single ACT-wide jurisdiction. Crown lease purpose clause adds an extra layer beyond zoning. ACTmapi is one of the most open + machine-readable government planning portals in AU.

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