Legislation, Practice Directions and Guidelines
Providing clear and up-to-date guidance on the planning system
The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (the PDI Act) legislation helps modernise South Australia’s planning system and builds upon important recommendations made by the Expert Panel on Planning Reform in 2014.
The planning system is complex and can often require experienced professionals to make procedural judgement calls. To support them, section 42 of the new PDI Act includes the ability for the State Planning Commission to issue practice directions and guidelines.
On 1 July 2019, Phase 1 of the new planning system became operational in outback areas, including the PDI Act, five new sets of Regulations and five new Practice Directions.
Important: Once consolidated, the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations 2019 (PDF, 872 KB) become the PDI (General) Regulations 2017.
Current downloads
You can access historic downloads from the Resources Library
Publications | |
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Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions - What We Have Heard Report (PDF, 572 KB) | May 19 |
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Phase 1 of the PDI Act 2016 became operational in outback areas
Completed July 2019
- Learn more about Phase 1
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Transitional Regulations Gazetted
Completed 3 March 2019
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Development Assessment Regulations on consultation
Completed 1 March 2019
- Draft Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations (PDF, 859 KB)
- Guide to the draft Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions (PDF, 4316 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Conditions (PDF, 203 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Deemed Planning Consent Standard Conditions (PDF, 566 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Notification of Performance Assessed Development Applications (PDF, 652 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Restricted and Impact Assessed Development (PDF, 1036 KB)
- Fact Sheet: Development Assessment: What is changing and how will this affect me as a resident? (PDF, 864 KB)
- Fact Sheet: Proposed Assessment Timeframes (PDF, 315 KB)
- What We Have Heard Report - Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions (PDF, 572 KB)
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Practice Direction #2 issued by the State Planning Commission
Completed August 2018
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Practice Direction #1 issued by the State Planning Commission
Completed November 2017
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Further aspects of the new PDI Act 2016 came into operation
Completed August 2017
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The Statues Amendment Act 2017 came into operation to support implementation of the PDI Act 2016
Completed July 2017
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The Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General Regulations) 2017 and Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Transitional Regulations 2017) were made to provide more detail on new legislative changes.
Completed April 2017
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The new PDI Act 2016 came into operation
Completed April 2017
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The new PDI Act 2016 was passed by Parliament
Completed April 2016
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The South Australian government released its response to the Expert Panel reports
Completed March 2015
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The Expert Panel for Planning Reform delivered its final report to the Minister for Planning
Completed December 2014
In 2016, the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act) was passed by the South Australian Parliament. The PDI Act is being “switched on” in stages, and will be fully operational by 2020. The PDI Act sets out a new way in which development applications will be assessed across the state.
The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 became operational for outback areas on 1 July 2019. Five new sets of Regulations also became operational for these areas on this date.
Downloads
- Comparison chart between the Development Regulations 2008 and the PDI Regulations (PDF, 457 KB)
- Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016
- Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Accredited Professionals) Regulations 2019
- Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Fees, Charges and Contributions) Regulations 2019
- Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017
- Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Swimming Pool Safety) Regulations 2019
- Statutes Amendment (Planning Development and Infrastructure) Act 2017
- Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) Regulations 2017
A practice direction may specify procedural requirements relating to any matter under the legislation. Practice directions will likely address a range of matters currently covered by the Development Regulations 2008.
Throughout the new Act there are many specific instances where the State Planning Commission is allowed to issue a practice direction. They are issued by the Commission by a notice in the Government Gazette and must be published on the SA Planning Portal. The Commission also has the power to revoke or vary a practice direction through the same process of notification and publication.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the following elements may require the establishment of a practice direction:
- preparation of a regional plan
- assessment pathways
- the establishment and appointment of assessment panels.
Practice Directions issued by the State Planning Commission so far include:
- Practice Direction - 1 - Environment and Food Production Areas - Greater Adelaide 2017 – Version 1 (21 November 2017) (PDF, 43 KB)
- Practice Direction - 2 - Consultation on the Preparation or Amendment of a Designated Instrument - Version 1 (9 August 2018) (PDF, 128 KB)
- Practice Direction - 3 - Notification of Performance Assessed Development - Version 1 (1 July 2019) (PDF, 467 KB)
- Practice Direction - 4 - Restricted and Impact Assessed Development - Version 1 (1 July 2019) (PDF, 754 KB)
- Practice Direction - 5 - Appointment of additional members to an Assessment Panel - Version 1 (1 July 2019) (PDF, 129 KB)
- Practice Direction - 6 - Scheme to avoid conflicting regimens - Version 1 (1 July 2019) (PDF, 114 KB)
- Practice Direction - 7 - Out of Council Areas Inspection Policy - Version 1 (1 July 2019) (PDF, 141 KB)
- Practice Direction - 8 - Swimming Pool Inspection Policy 2019 - Version 1 (5 September 2019) (PDF, 120 KB)
A record of public consultation relating to this planning tool is listed below.
OPEN: Inspection Policies Practice Direction
Consultation close date 18 December 2019
The draft Inspection Policies Practice Direction has been issued under section 144 of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act) and has been informed by expert advice from the State Planning Commission’s Building Committee and other industry stakeholders.
The draft practice direction outlines proposed inspection levels and is intended to set minimum mandatory requirements that councils must comply with under the PDI Act.
Consultation is now open on the draft Inspection Policies Practice Direction until 18 December 2019.
This practice direction will apply to all councils.
To support the phased introduction of the PDI Act the practice direction will initially apply only to regional councils (Phase Two councils). However, from 1 July 2020, the practice direction will then apply to all councils (to include Phase Three councils).
Get involved
Downloads
CLOSED: Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions
Consultation closed on 1 March 2019
The draft Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions set out how the new development assessment framework will operate in the new planning system.
Your input is being used to inform the draft Regulations and Practice Directions to help set out the new framework for planning and development in South Australia.
A What We Have Heard report based on feedback received has been circulated to all engagement participants and published on this page.
- Draft Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations (PDF, 859 KB)
- Guide to the draft Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions (PDF, 4316 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Conditions (PDF, 203 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Deemed Planning Consent Standard Conditions (PDF, 566 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Notification of Performance Assessed Development Applications (PDF, 652 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Restricted and Impact Assessed Development (PDF, 1036 KB)
- Fact Sheet: Development Assessment: What is changing and how will this affect me as a resident? (PDF, 864 KB)
- Fact Sheet: Proposed Assessment Timeframes (PDF, 315 KB)
- What We Have Heard Report - Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions (PDF, 572 KB)
- 001 - Naracoorte Lucindale Council.pdf (199.0 KB, PDF File)
- 002 - Bruce Payne.pdf (151.1 KB, PDF File)
- 003 - Save Unley Trees, Grow Grow Grow Your Own, Friends of the City of Unley Society.pdf (167.4 KB, PDF File)
- 004 - Regional Council of Goyder - late submission.pdf (776.4 KB, PDF File)
- 005 - ACB Consulting.pdf (114.7 KB, PDF File)
- 006 - City of West Torrens.pdf (1.0 MB, PDF File)
- 007 - City of Salisbury.pdf (213.1 KB, PDF File)
- 008 - Berri Barmera Council, District Council of Loxton Waikerie, Renmark Paringa Council.pdf (292.0 KB, PDF File)
- 009 - Mobile Carriers Forum.pdf (2.0 MB, PDF File)
- 010 - South Australian Independent Retailers.pdf (853.0 KB, PDF File)
- 011 - Mid Murray Council.pdf (169.3 KB, PDF File)
- 012 - Mount Barker District Council.pdf (217.5 KB, PDF File)
- 012a - Mount Barker District Council.pdf (172.7 KB, PDF File)
- 013 - Light Regional Council.pdf (132.8 KB, PDF File)
- 014 - City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters.pdf (1.5 MB, PDF File)
- 015 - City of Burnside.pdf (129.4 KB, PDF File)
- 016 - City of Charles Sturt.pdf (437.7 KB, PDF File)
- 017 - City of Onkaparinga - Development Services.pdf (589.4 KB, PDF File)
- 018 - Ron Lochert.pdf (40.8 KB, PDF File)
- 020 - Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute South Australia.pdf (136.3 KB, PDF File)
- 021 - Housing Industry Association.pdf (530.3 KB, PDF File)
- 022 - City of Unley - late submission.pdf (265.3 KB, PDF File)
- 023 - City of Tea Tree Gully.pdf (631.4 KB, PDF File)
- 024 - City of Holdfast Bay.pdf (246.9 KB, PDF File)
- 026 - Peet Limited.pdf (144.7 KB, PDF File)
- 027 - City of Adelaide.pdf (1.8 MB, PDF File)
- 028 - City of Onkaparinga - Parks and Natural Resources.pdf (119.8 KB, PDF File)
- 029 - City of Port Adelaide Enfield.pdf (1.0 MB, PDF File)
- 030 - Swimming Pool and Spa Association.pdf (224.5 KB, PDF File)
- 031 - Bunnings Group Limited.pdf (1.3 MB, PDF File)
- 032 - Bernie Steer.pdf (543.7 KB, PDF File)
- 033 - Local Government Association.pdf (1.3 MB, PDF File)
- 034 - The Verge Cohousing Community.pdf (425.6 KB, PDF File)
- 035 - Jeff Shillabeer.pdf (326.9 KB, PDF File)
- 036 - The Rural City of Murray Bridge.pdf (1.4 MB, PDF File)
- 037 - Campbelltown City Council.pdf (124.9 KB, PDF File)
- 038 - Town of Gawler.pdf (1.8 MB, PDF File)
- 039 - Tony DiGiovanni.pdf (11.9 KB, PDF File)
- 040 - Adelaide Plains Council.pdf (294.4 KB, PDF File)
- 041 - Australian Institute of Landscape Architects SA Chapter.pdf (228.2 KB, PDF File)
- 042 - Alexandrina Council.pdf (172.0 KB, PDF File)
- 043 - Yorke Peninsula Council, Copper Coast Council, Barunga West Council, Wakefield Regional Council, Port Pirie Regional Council.pdf (3.5 MB, PDF File)
- 044 - City of Playford.pdf (541.4 KB, PDF File)
- 045 - City of Salisbury.pdf (1.1 MB, PDF File)
- 046 - Planning Institute Australia.pdf (168.0 KB, PDF File)
- 048 - City of Marion.pdf (126.5 KB, PDF File)
- 049 - The Barossa Council staff.pdf (1.0 MB, PDF File)
- 050 - Property Council of Australia.pdf (4.1 MB, PDF File)
- 051 - Resilient East Project Steering Group.pdf (232.7 KB, PDF File)
- 053 - Yup Yup Labs.pdf (79.4 KB, PDF File)
- 054 - Master Builders Association of SA Inc.pdf (955.7 KB, PDF File)
- 055 - Mary Morris.pdf (557.9 KB, PDF File)
- 056 - Adelaide Hills Council.pdf (363.1 KB, PDF File)
- 057 - The Law Society of South Australia - late submission.pdf (352.0 KB, PDF File)
- 058 - Senior Officers of the 5 Growth Area Council Officers.pdf (1.0 MB, PDF File)
- 059 - Environment Defenders Office.pdf (145.0 KB, PDF File)
- 060 - Australian Institute of Building Surveyors.pdf (167.6 KB, PDF File)
- 061 - Urban Development Institute of Australia SA Inc.pdf (438.6 KB, PDF File)
- 062 - Evonne Moore.pdf (103.0 KB, PDF File)
- 063 - People for Trees.pdf (86.1 KB, PDF File)
- 064 - Prospect Residents Association.pdf (967.6 KB, PDF File)
- 065 - Friends of the City of Unley.pdf (85.4 KB, PDF File)
- 066 - Kensington Residents Association.pdf (884.2 KB, PDF File)
- 067 - Community Alliance SA.pdf (430.4 KB, PDF File)
- 068 - Norwood Residents Association.pdf (255.7 KB, PDF File)
- 069 - Cheltenham Park Residents Association.pdf (278.5 KB, PDF File)
- 070 - Coastal Ecology Protection Group.pdf (62.4 KB, PDF File)
- 071 - National Trust South Australia.pdf (629.8 KB, PDF File)
- 072 - Residents for Environment and Character Conservation.pdf (31.0 KB, PDF File)