Apply for a metropolitan planning levy certificate

Key information

You must submit a metropolitan planning levy (MPL) certificate with your planning permit application if:

• you want to apply for a planning permit to develop land in metropolitan Melbourne
• your estimated development costs are more than $1,311,000 (threshold as of 1 July 2025).

Step 1: Gather required information

You need the following information to apply for an MPL certificate:

• The name of the business or person applying for a planning permit.
• Address, phone number and email address (where we send the certificate).
• Details of the land you are making a planning permit application for.
• Estimated cost of the development.

If the land owner is different to the applicant, you will also need to provide these land owner details:

• Name of the person/business.
• ABN or ACN.
• Country.
• Address.

Step 2: Submit your application

Once you have gathered your information, you can complete the online application form.

When asked ‘What type of Metropolitan Planning Levy Certificate are you applying for?’, select ‘New certificate’.

Before you submit your application, you must declare that the information you have provided is true and complete.

After submitting your application, you will receive:

• a unique application identifier number
• our bank account details to pay the levy by electronic funds transfer
• an emailed copy of your application for your records.

Next steps

Once you pay the levy, we email you the MPL certificate so you can lodge your planning permit application.

An MPL certificate expires 180 days after its issue date. Extensions are not available.

You must submit a new application for an MPL certificate and pay the levy again if:

• your certificate expires before you make a planning permit application
• you have already used your certificate to apply for a planning permit.

If the estimated cost of the development increases after you receive your certificate but before you apply for your planning permit (and your certificate has not expired), you must apply for a revised certificate and pay any additional levy.