Questions & Answers

How do the Planning Act, Territory Plan, District Specifications and Technical Specifications interact when assessing residential development?

The Planning Act 2023 sets the rules for how planning decisions are made in the ACT. The Territory Plan explains what can be built and the planning requirements that apply. District Policies add rules for specific areas, while Technical Specifications provide the detailed standards and design requirements used to assess development proposals. Together, these documents help determine whether a residential development meets ACT planning rules.

Last reviewed: 6 August 2026 Information current as at: 1 September 2026

Short Answer

The Planning Act 2023 sets the planning rules, the Territory Plan explains what can be built, District Policies apply to specific areas, and Technical Specifications provide the detailed standards used to assess development. Together, they determine whether a residential proposal meets ACT planning requirements.

Detailed Explanation

The Planning Act 2023 establishes the statutory framework for the ACT planning system and development assessment process. The Territory Plan gives effect to the Act by setting the planning policies, zones, assessment outcomes, and development requirements. District Policies provide location-specific planning requirements that apply to individual districts, while Technical Specifications support the Territory Plan by setting out detailed benchmarks, design standards, and assessment criteria used to demonstrate compliance with the relevant planning provisions. Together, these documents form the framework for assessing residential development proposals in the ACT.

Key Point

No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.

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