Planning & development

From early 2021, all development applications must be lodged on the statewide PlanSA portal.

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Read more about the new planning system and its launch


The PlanSA portal will help you to: 


If you wish to lodge or manage your development application, click the link below:


Development applications - assessment timeframes

Timeframes for development applications vary based on the proposed development, the relevant assessment pathway, their corresponding stages and if referrals must be made to an external body.

What is the timeframe for a development application?

However, majority of applications that require both Planning Consent and Building Consent consist of:

  1. Development application lodged
  2. Relevant authority may ask for more information (RFI)
  3. Referrals to agencies if required
  4. Public notification, if required
  5. Planning assessment
  6. Planning decision
  7. Appeals, if relevant
  8. Building consent assessment
  9. Building decision
  10. Full development approval granted
  11. Building work commences

Visit PlanSA’s stages and timeframes page for the full guide

Visual timeframe

Below is a visual timeframe of what a development application undergoes, from its lodgement on the PlanSA portal, to the assessment periods that apply.

Click image to download
Planning and Development timeframes

Download and save the Assessment Timeframe, for future reference, alternatively there is a multiple-page document available that simplifies the above diagrams.

View the simplified diagrams here(PDF, 105KB)

These diagrams are based on PlanSA’s diagram here – council have produced the above to ensure they are clear and easily understood.


PlanSA resources and fact sheets

Search for operational instruments and other documents that support the planning and development system. 


Development applications and assessments

Frequently visited pages


Resources and information