Heritage

We have a variety of heritage places, including buildings, residential and commercial precincts, parks, trees and objects (such as the neon T D Noone Woven Products sign at 541 Keilor Road, Niddrie - HO338).

These heritage places reflect the different phases of the city’s development, and are documented in a number of heritage studies that have previously been prepared.

Information on each site is now available on the Moonee Valley Heritage Database. The database includes information about heritage places and precincts, including a Statement of Significance (where prepared).

Council supports the installation of solar panels in Heritage Overlay areas. Head to our solar panels and heritage requirements page for guidance on:

• where the ideal space is to locate solar panels on your property
• how to install panels without a planning permit
• what to do if you determine you do need a planning permit
• how to apply for a planning permit
• installation mistakes to avoid
• how to orientate solar panels on your property
• how to get support in your solar powered journey.

By having the Heritage Overlay applied to your property, you may require a planning permit to:

• demolish or relocate buildings
• subdivide or consolidate land
• construct or extend a building
• make external alterations
• display signage and advertising
• remove trees (in some cases)
• external painting (in some cases).

No. For properties subject to a Heritage Overlay, planning permits are generally not required to carry out routine maintenance and repairs which do not change the external appearance of the heritage property.

If you are unsure if you require a planning permit, you can view Council’s permit exemptions policies or contact Council for advice by calling 9243 9111. The permit exemptions policies set out what is exempt from the Heritage Overlay controls and are incorporated documents in the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme. 

• City of Moonee Valley Permit Exemptions Policy – Heritage Overlay Precincts  

• City of Moonee Valley Permit Exemptions Policy – Heritage Infrastructure 

• City of Moonee Valley Permit Exemptions Policy – Railway Heritage Places 

• City of Moonee Valley Permit Exemptions Policy – HO372 Housing Commission of Victoria Ascot Estate 

These policies are available on the Department of Transport and Planning

We have a free heritage advisory service and will work with you to try and achieve a mutually beneficial solution.

Please note: A building permit may be required, even if a planning permit isn’t. 

The planning permit process allows us to assess how the proposed works will impact the heritage significance of the place, and protect these properties from unsympathetic development.

Before you can apply for a permit, you must complete a pre-application meeting form which is available from Planning applications and permits page and have a meeting with a member from the Statutory Planning team. This meeting will help ensure that what you are proposing seems reasonable and that you are applying for the correct permit/s.

A Statement of Significance is prepared for every Heritage Overlay. The statement identifies what is significant, as well as how and why each property or precinct is significant.

A heritage precinct is an area containing a number of heritage places (such as properties, structures, trees or other features) that are historically related or share common characteristics. They are commonly a group of houses from the same era or a shopping strip.

A serial listing includes places that share a common history and/or characteristic, but which do not adjoin each other or form a geographical grouping.

External paint controls relate to the colour palettes of the era of the property. If external paint controls apply then a planning permit is required to change the property’s colour scheme.

Certain outbuildings and/or fences contribute to the heritage significance of the property and/or precinct. You may need a planning permit for any works to these elements of your place.