Development approval is needed to make sure any new development or use of land complies with various local and state planning requirements. There are three key stages to the development application process.

Stage 1: Your application is lodged

• You complete the application form, supply any necessary information and pay an application fee, then lodge your application online or in person at the City of Belmont offices;
• When your application is received, a City officer will check that all necessary information has been provided. If information is missing, a City officer will contact you for further information;
• When all of the necessary information has been provided, your application will be formally accepted and you will be sent an acknowledgement letter;
• Your application is then assigned to a planning officer for assessment.

Stage 2: Your application is assessed

• A planning officer will review your application and check it against the relevant planning requirements, discussing your application internally with any relevant technical officers as needed;
• Your application may need to be advertised to surrounding landowners/occupiers or referred to a government agency for comment. If this is required, processing your application could take up to 90 days. If this is not required, it will usually take 60 days to process your application;
• Where any issues are identified following the assessment of the application, the planning officer will contact you to discuss the issues.

Stage 3: Your application is determined

How your application is determined depends on the nature of your application and its location, whether any variations are proposed or whether any major issues have been highlighted through advertising the application.
 
These are the four ways the outcome of your application could be decided;
 

• Delegated Determination:  This is how most development applications are determined, with a decision made by delegated City of Belmont staff; 
• Council Determination: This is a decision that is made by Council at an Ordinary Council Meeting, which involves staff preparing a recommendation report and the Councillors making a decision on an application;
• Development Assessment Panel Determination: A determination by a Development Assessment Panel may be mandatory or you might choose this as part of your application;
• Dual Determination: This is where two decisions need to be made separately under the Local Planning Scheme No. 15 and the Metropolitan Region Scheme, usually by the City of Belmont and the Western Australian Planning Commission, respectively.

Once your application is determined using one of these methods, you will receive a decision letter to let you know the outcome of your application, including any conditions of approval or reasons for refusal.