Miscellaneous regulations amendments have been made

The Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Miscellaneous) (No 2) Amendment Regulations 2025 have now been made.

The changes included in the amendment regulations were required to implement the South Australian Government’s Housing Roadmap, recommendations of the Expert Panel for the Planning System Implementation Review’s Final Report and technical administrative changes.

The key changes:

• clarify exemptions for tree damaging activity in close proximity to a dwelling or swimming pool
• make local council the relevant authority for assessing all minor variations to planning consents after final development approval is issued (except where the State Planning Commission granted final development approval)
• enable local councils to maintain trees more frequently
• ensure that only planning professionals can issue planning consent
• clarify that applications for planning and land division consent can be made for an approved allotment that is yet to be created
• give landowners easier access to documentation relevant to their property through local council
• provide both public and private schools equal exemptions for performing tree maintenance works
• exclude electric vehicle charging stations from the definition of ‘development’ (subject to exceptions). This change will not commence operation until 1 July 2026 to allow time for a new Ministerial Building Standard that outlines assessment requirements when an electric vehicle charging station does require approval.

Several amendments  were made to the draft regulation amendments following consultation in March and April 2025.

For more information, view the table of amendments and the PlanSA Past consultations webpage.