New planning system for SA

South Australia’s urban and regional planning system has undergone its biggest reform in over 25 years and was implemented on 19 March 2021.

The State Planning Commission led the change, resulting in the planning system underpinned by the new Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA) (PDI Act) which introduces a raft of new planning tools.

The new planning and development system will affect how development policy is formed and amended, and how development applications are lodged and assessed.

A significant element of the planning reform involved replacing all 72 South Australian Development Plans with a single state-wide planning rule book, the Planning and Design Code.

From 19 March 2021, all Development Applications will be assessed under the Planning and Design Code.

Importantly, lodging, tracking, paying and assessment of all Development Applications has been centralised to a state system.

For all information on South Australia's planning system, see the State Government website.