Frequently Asked Questions

About the Results

Is this a planning permit or a planning opinion? No. It's an early indication of what's likely, and where to look. A council decides permits, and a planner advises on them.

How accurate is it? It depends on the result. Measured rules come from official sources, and each says where. Costs and many models are estimates with Australian benchmarks, and say so. Generated plans show what fits, and aren't designs. See Reading the Results.

It says "Meets every rule we could check". Am I safe? Not on that alone. Read What this Check covers beside it, and the overlay lines. A permit can still be refused on what isn't checked, and a covenant on title can stop a design.

Why does it say "Not checked" so often? Because we'd rather say so than guess. Many overlay schedules give numbers that depend on a location or an exception, and the design may lack what a rule needs. The finding says which, with a link to read. See Overlays in the Check.

Why is my site "on a road reserve"? Your shape covers a road parcel. Use Lot to pick the real property.

Fill placed fewer buildings than I expected. Why? Something limited it, such as the room on the lot or a height limit. The note on the site's card says which.

Where does it work? Victoria. Some data is only for parts of it, such as the City of Melbourne's measured heights and trees, and each page says so.

Using It

Do I need an account? Not to try it. See Accounts and Early Access.

Why is there a waiting list? We're opening in stages, and reviewing each request personally.

Where did my draft go? A draft without an account is kept in that browser only. Using another browser, or clearing its data, loses it.

I forgot my password. Ask an admin to reset it. You'll get a temporary one, and you choose your own when you sign in.

Can I bring my own design? Yes: IFC, DXF, Rhino, GeoJSON, or a floor plan from openPlan3D or an iPhone scan. See Upload Buildings.

Can I use it from my own tools? Yes, with an API key from an account. See Developer Portal & API.

Sources

This page describes how the app works. Each linked page lists its own sources.