Business Law Library & Tracker

Planning, Building & Local Approvals

Planning approvals, permitted use, fitouts, building access, signage, local authority conditions and premises due diligence.

Sources last reviewed 8 June 2026

Main law guides

297

Acts, regulations and codes worth reading first

Topics

22

Plain-English clusters

Published case explainers

496

Selected cases with a business lesson

Tracked updates

110

New, amended & reviewed

Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked official source for section-level detail, and get advice for your situation.

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Main laws

Main lawNew South Wales

Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW)

Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawNorthern Territory

Education and Care Services (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT)

Education and Care Services (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawACT

Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) Act 2011 (ACT)

Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) Act 2011 (ACT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawTasmania

Education and Care Services National Law (Application) Act 2011 (Tas)

Education and Care Services National Law (Application) Act 2011 (Tas)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawQueensland

Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011 (Qld)

Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011 (Qld)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawVictoria

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic)

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawWestern Australia

Education and Care Services National Law Application Act 2026 (WA)

Education and Care Services National Law Application Act 2026 (WA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawSouth Australia

Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Act 2011 (SA)

Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Act 2011 (SA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawQueensland

Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)

Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNorthern Territory

Electrical Safety Act 2022 (NT)

Electrical Safety Act 2022 (NT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNew South Wales

Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 (NSW)

Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 (NSW)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawWestern Australia

Electricity Act 1945 (WA)

Electricity Act 1945 (WA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawVictoria

Electricity Safety Act 1998 (Vic)

Electricity Safety Act 1998 (Vic)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawVictoria

Gas Safety Act 1997 (Vic)

Gas Safety Act 1997 (Vic)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawWestern Australia

Gas Standards Act 1972 (WA)

Gas Standards Act 1972 (WA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawTasmania

Occupational Licensing Act 2005 (Tas)

Occupational Licensing Act 2005 (Tas)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNorthern Territory

Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 (NT)

Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 (NT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawWestern Australia

Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 (WA)

Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 (WA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawSouth Australia

Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 (SA)

Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 (SA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNew South Wales

Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 (NSW)

Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 (NSW)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawQueensland

Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld)

Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawACT

Utilities (Technical Regulation) Act 2014 (ACT)

Utilities (Technical Regulation) Act 2014 (ACT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
Main lawNorthern Territory

Building Act 1993 (NT)

Building Act 1993 (NT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawVictoria

Building Act 1993 (Vic)

Building Act 1993 (Vic)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawTasmania

Building Act 2016 (Tas)

Building Act 2016 (Tas)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawWestern Australia

Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 (WA)

Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 (WA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawSouth Australia

Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA)

Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawACT

Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (ACT)

Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (ACT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawNew South Wales

Home Building Act 1989 (NSW)

Home Building Act 1989 (NSW)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawQueensland

Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld)

Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawCommonwealth

Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2010 (Cth)

Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2010 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsDiscrimination & AccessibilityCommercial Leases & Property
Main lawNew South Wales

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW)

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & TradesEnvironment, Waste & Pollution
Main lawTasmania

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (Tas)

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (Tas)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & TradesEnvironment, Waste & Pollution
Main lawNorthern Territory

Planning Act 1999 (NT)

Planning Act 1999 (NT)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & TradesEnvironment, Waste & Pollution
Main lawQueensland

Planning Act 2016 (Qld)

Planning Act 2016 (Qld)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & TradesEnvironment, Waste & Pollution
Main lawACT

Planning Act 2023 (ACT)

Planning Act 2023 (ACT)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & TradesEnvironment, Waste & Pollution
Main lawWestern Australia

Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA)

Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & TradesEnvironment, Waste & Pollution
Main lawVictoria

Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic)

Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & TradesEnvironment, Waste & Pollution
Main lawSouth Australia

Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA)

Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & TradesEnvironment, Waste & Pollution

Tracker

  1. New8 June 2026

    Licensed trades and utility safety laws added

    The legislation library now covers key licensed-trades and technical-safety regimes for electrical, plumbing, drainage, gasfitting and utility work across Australia. This gives trade contractors, builders, fitout teams, landlords, franchise groups and small businesses hiring contractors a clearer place to understand licence classes, certificates, inspections, incident records, regulator notices and handover evidence.

    Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsEmployment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Registration & Operations
  2. New8 June 2026

    Building and trade regulation laws added

    The legislation library now has a state and territory building-regulation cluster covering builder and trade authorisation, fitout projects, permits, inspections, certifiers, handover records and contractor due diligence. This is designed for builders, tradies, landlords, tenants, franchisors and small operators opening or renovating premises.

    Construction & TradesPlanning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
  3. New7 June 2026

    Planning and premises approval coverage added

    Businesses can now browse the core planning and premises approval laws for every state and territory, plus the federal Premises Standards for building accessibility. The pages focus on leases, fitouts, changes of use, development approvals, signs, access, building checks and local authority conditions.

    Planning, Building & Local ApprovalsCommercial Leases & PropertyConstruction & Trades