Local Provisions Schedule (LPS, Tasmania)
The Tasmanian Planning Scheme has two layers: state-wide SPPs + each council's Local Provisions Schedule mapping zones, Particular Purpose Zones, and SAPs.
Ask Chalkline about this →A Local Provisions Schedule (LPS) in Tasmania is the local-level planning instrument inside the statewide Tasmanian Planning Scheme (TPS), prepared by each of the 29 municipal councils under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (Tas) (LUPAA). The LPS maps the statewide State Planning Provisions (SPPs) zones onto specific land within the council area, and adds council-specific Particular Purpose Zones (PPZs) and Specific Area Plans (SAPs) for places with locally important characteristics not adequately handled by the statewide zones. The operative version of every council’s LPS forms part of the TPS, which became fully operative across all of Tasmania on 26 June 2024. Verified per LUPAA 1993 and the Tasmanian Planning Commission (2026-05-23).
The Tasmanian Planning Scheme two-layer model:
| Layer | Content | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| State Planning Provisions (SPPs) | 23 standard zones (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.), codes for use and development, definitions | Tasmanian Planning Commission |
| Local Provisions Schedule (LPS) (this) | Zone maps, Particular Purpose Zones, Specific Area Plans, schedule of local heritage and area-specific lists | Each council, approved by TPC |
The split: the SPPs say “if it’s a Low Density Residential zone, this is the use table and these are the rules”; the LPS says “this lot at 123 Smith Street is Low Density Residential zone”.
LPS components:
| Component | What it does |
|---|---|
| Zone maps | Geographical maps showing which zone applies to each parcel |
| Particular Purpose Zones (PPZs) | Council-specific zones for unique sites (e.g. major hospital, university precinct, industrial estate) |
| Specific Area Plans (SAPs) | Council-specific overlays for places needing tailored rules (heritage precincts, character areas, environmental zones) |
| Code schedules | Local lists of heritage items, significant trees, etc. |
| Local content provisions | Where the council adds rules beyond the SPPs (within LUPAA constraints) |
The 23 statewide zones (SPP):
Residential zones include:
| Zone | Description |
|---|---|
| General Residential | Most suburban residential |
| Inner Residential | Higher-density inner-suburban |
| Low Density Residential | Lower-density (1000 m² lots typical) |
| Rural Living | Semi-rural blocks |
| Village | Smaller rural settlements |
| Environmental Living | Environmental constraints |
Plus commercial, industrial, recreational, environmental management, future urban, utilities, and others.
Reading the LPS for a project:
- Identify the council (29 in Tasmania).
- Open the council’s LPS via the Tasmanian Planning Scheme website (PlanBuild Tasmania).
- Locate the property on the zone map.
- Note the zone, any PPZ overlay, any SAP overlay, and any code overlays (heritage, bushfire, landslip).
- Read the corresponding SPP use table to see if your proposed development is permitted in that zone.
- Read any SAP or local provisions for specific rules.
- Read the relevant codes for development requirements (bushfire, landslip, heritage, etc.).
Why builders should care:
| Reason | Impact |
|---|---|
| A zone change can make a project permittable or prohibited | Critical early-stage check |
| A Specific Area Plan can add tighter controls than the statewide SPP | DA must address SAP-specific requirements |
| Particular Purpose Zones often have bespoke use tables | Permitted uses are LPS-specific |
| Heritage lists are in the LPS | DA implications for any listed property |
| Bushfire and landslip overlays vary by council | Different specialist reports required |
The 26 June 2024 transition:
Before 26 June 2024, each council still operated under its own legacy planning scheme. The TPS came into effect on that date, replacing the legacy schemes and consolidating the rules under the state-wide SPP + council LPS model. The transition allowed councils to map their previous zones onto the SPP equivalents and add Particular Purpose Zones / Specific Area Plans for genuinely unique conditions.
Common builder defects:
- Reading the SPP only without checking the council’s LPS for overlays: missed PPZ, SAP, or heritage list.
- Assuming the previous (legacy) planning scheme still applies: TPS now governs; legacy maps and rules are superseded.
- Missing a Specific Area Plan in a character precinct: most common reason for surprise DA conditions.
- Heritage-listed status not detected: heritage list is in the LPS, not on the title or section 337.
Cross-state equivalents:
| State | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| TAS | Local Provisions Schedule (this) within the Tasmanian Planning Scheme |
| VIC | Planning scheme (council-specific, under PE Act 1987) |
| NSW | Local Environmental Plan (LEP) (council-specific, under EP&A Act) |
| QLD | Planning scheme (council-specific, under Planning Act 2016) |
| SA | Planning and Design Code (statewide; less council-specific) |
| WA | Local planning scheme (council-specific) |
Builder takeaway:
- For Tasmanian residential work, always read the council’s LPS first to confirm zoning and overlays before design.
- Use the PlanBuild Tasmania online portal as the single source.
- Engage a Tasmanian planning consultant for any project in a PPZ or SAP area; the local rules can be detailed.
- The TPS is relatively new (operative since 26 June 2024) so case law and decision patterns are still evolving.
Also known as: LPS; council LPS; Tasmanian LPS; local planning schedule; council scheme overlay.
Category: Approvals & DA.
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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Verified: 2026-05-23. Quarterly review for currency.