Public notification period

A public notification period in planning law is the statutory window during which a Development Application is advertised and the public can lodge submissions in support, against, or with conditions on the proposal. Periods range from 14 to 28 days minimum depending on the DA category and the state. The period determines submitter and appeal standing: anyone who lodges a substantive submission during the window has rights that don’t accrue to those who don’t. The notification period is the single most important deadline in the DA process for objectors and supporters. Verified per EP&A Reg 2021 (NSW), Planning Act 2016 (Qld), PDI Act 2016 (SA), and equivalent legislation across states (2026-05-23).

How notification periods work

Phase	What happens
Notification starts	Council publishes online, posts site signs, may letter adjoining and adjacent owners, runs newspaper ads (where required)
Submission window opens	Any person can lodge submissions (typically online)
Window closes	Submissions after this date generally not considered, though some discretion exists
Council analyses submissions	Each substantive submission considered in the merit assessment
Council notifies submitters	Decision communicated to those who lodged
Appeal window starts	Submitters with appropriate standing can appeal within statutory window

Standard notification periods by state and category

State	Standard DA	Higher-impact (advertised)	Highest-impact (designated/impact-assessable)
NSW	14 days	28 days	28 days (designated development)
VIC	14 days	30 days (some categories)	60+ days for major projects
QLD	15 BD	15 BD	15 BD (impact-assessable)
SA	10 BD	10 BD (performance assessed with notification)	30 BD (restricted development)
WA	14 days	28 days (advertised)	30+ days (significant impact)
TAS	14 days	28 days	30+ days (discretionary)
NT	14 days	28 days	30+ days
ACT	15 BD	15 BD	Per merit assessment

(Periods are minimums; many councils set longer periods through their CPP/equivalent.)

What’s notified

A standard public notification includes:

Notification element	Content
Online publication	Full DA documents + portal link
Site sign	”Development Application: [address], submissions accepted [date range]“
Letters to adjoining and adjacent owners	Same info + key plans (where required by CPP)
Newspaper advertisement	Where required for advertised/designated development
Council notification	Some councils notify schools, councils, environmental agencies

The specific elements depend on the development category and the council’s Community Participation Plan (CPP).

What’s a “substantive” submission

Submission type	Counts?
Letter from adjoining owner objecting on planning grounds	Yes
Email/online submission with substantive grounds	Yes
Petition with signatures	Yes (each signatory generally treated as one submitter)
Anonymous submission	Variable; some councils accept, some require identification
”I object” with no reasons	Considered but limited weight
Submission lodged outside window	Generally not considered; council has limited discretion
Submission in support of the development	Yes; equally considered

Why the deadline matters

Implication of missing the window	Effect
No submission lodged	No submitter rights; no appeal standing on most categories
Submission lodged outside the window	Council can disregard; no submitter rights
Late submission accepted out of discretion	Standing weak; can be challenged later
Multiple substantive submissions	Council must address each; cumulative weight in merit assessment

For designated development (NSW), impact-assessable (Qld), and similar pathways, submission lodgement creates standing to appeal. Without a submission, an objector has no path to challenge the eventual decision.

Pre-DA public engagement vs notification

Some applicants engage the public before the formal DA lodgement:

Pre-DA engagement	Purpose
Neighbour meetings	Address concerns informally; reduce later objections
Community consultation sessions	Major projects; demonstrate engagement
Letters to neighbours	Outline proposed design; invite feedback
Online preview	Some councils encourage pre-DA pubs and consultation

Pre-DA engagement is not the same as the statutory notification period but can reduce the number of formal objections lodged during the window.

Common builder traps

Trap	What happens
Underestimating the period in project programming	Project timeline slips
Missing the site sign installation deadline	Re-notification required
Newspaper ad missed or wrong wording	Re-notification required
Letters to adjoining owners not actually sent	Re-notification
Council CPP requires more than the minimum	Builder assumes 14 days, council requires 28

The single most common cause of DA delays at this stage is inadequate or invalid public notification. Re-notification adds 4-8 weeks to the project timeline.

Special notification triggers

Beyond standard notification, certain proposals trigger additional notifications:

Trigger	Additional notification
Heritage item or HCA	Heritage stakeholders, heritage council
Bushfire-prone land	Rural Fire Service (NSW), CFA (Vic) referral
Flood-prone land	Hydrology agency, flood-affected neighbours
Aboriginal cultural heritage	Local Aboriginal Land Council, NPWS
State infrastructure proximity	Transport, utilities, RailCorp/ARTC
Endangered species habitat	DPHI Environment (NSW), state environment agency

These additional notifications run in parallel with the public notification period but may extend assessment time.

When notification is NOT required

Category	Notification
Exempt development	None
CDC under SEPP Codes	None (with limited exceptions)
VicSmart in Vic	None
Accepted development in Qld	None
Minor amendments under s.4.55(1) in NSW	Typically none
Internal-only fit-out	Typically none

These streamlined pathways skip the notification period as a deliberate design choice for low-impact development.

Builder takeaway

The notification period is a deadline, not a guideline. Diary it.
For larger or sensitive developments, engage the public pre-DA to reduce formal objections.
Build the period into project programming: 14-28 days for notification, plus 4-8 weeks for council assessment after the period closes.
If your DA goes to public notification, expect submissions. The council must respond to each substantive one.
Stay engaged through the notification window; offer to meet objectors and amend the proposal if reasonable.

Also known as

Public exhibition period; advertising period; submission period; comment period; notification window.

Category: Approvals & DA.