The Metropolitan Planning Levy (MPL) is imposed for making a leviable planning permit application. 

You should apply for a metropolitan planning levy (MPL) certificate if the:

• on or after 1 July 2024, the estimated cost of your development is greater than $1,271,000, and
• the development is located in a municipality of metropolitan Melbourne.

The SRO encourages all MPL certificate applicants to engage with the relevant planning authority to ensure permit application are ready to lodge prior to applying for an MPL certificate as there are no extensions of time for MPL certificates.

A certificate is valid for 180 days after its issue date.

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 your certificate is still current, and your development costs have increased before you applied for a permit, you can apply for a revised certificate and pay the additional levy amount.

You can also apply for a revised certificate to correct errors on the certificate where it is different from the information contained within your application. 

A revised MPL certificate expires on the later of 90 days after its issue date or the date on which the original MPL certificate expires. 

The Commissioner cannot issue you with a revised certificate if you apply for the revised certificate more than 180 days after the issue date of your original certificate. 

1. Gather required information

   The following information is needed to complete the application for a metropolitan planning levy (MPL) certificate, which must be completed and submitted online:

   • details of the business/person applying for a planning permit
   • address and contact details, including email address
   • land details to which the levy and planning permit application relates
   • land owner details.
   • estimated cost of the development.

   Please ensure that your email address is correct as we send your certificate to the email address in your application.

2. Submit your application

   To apply for an MPL certificate, select 'New certificate' in response to the question: 'What type of Metropolitan Planning Levy Certificate are you applying for?'

   Complete all relevant and mandatory sections.

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

   After submitting your application, you will be issued a unique application identifier number along with our bank account details to pay by electronic funds transfer.

   You can also download a copy of your completed application for your records.

Next Steps

When you submit your application, you will be presented with 2 options to save a copy of your application.

Option 1: The first notification will allow you to save a copy of your application to your computer.

Option 2: Will ask you for your email address and a copy of your application will be emailed directly to you.

Once you pay the levy, we email you the MPL certificate so you can lodge your 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 can apply for a revised MPL certificate and pay any additional levy amount.

This additional levy is calculated on the increase in the estimated cost of development.

The Commissioner can only provide a refund of the levy if:

• the request is made in writing no later than 30 days after the expiry of the levy certificate or revised certificate if there is one; and
• the leviable planning permit application in respect of which the levy was paid has not been made; and;

The Commissioner is satisfied of one or more of the following grounds: 

• There has been a mathematical error in calculating the amount of the levy in relation to the estimated cost of the development stated in the application for the MPL certificate.
• The applicant for the leviable planning permit application died before the application was made, and no other person is proceeding with the application.
• The relevant planning scheme was amended before the leviable planning permit application was made and because of the amendment, the authority must refuse to grant the permit application.

We cannot refund any levy amounts in any other circumstances, including where:

• the estimated cost of the development decreases;
• you do not lodge your planning permit application;
• your application lapses, is refused or is withdrawn (other than in the above case); or
• after you apply for your planning permit, the threshold amount increases.
   

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