Submit a planning application

Before you start

Our validation checklists tell you what we need to register your application. They help to make sure you give us all the information we need. If you don't, we will have to contact you for more which can lead to delays.  We are currently reviewing our Validation checklist to ensure that it is up to date and we anticipate completing this work in early 2022.

Before you submit an application you should:

• check the validation checklist
• view the application list requirement matrix
• bat survey may be required on a site in a rural area or within a town location immediately adjacent to green infrastructure. 
• Phosphates on the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site
• if your application is for minerals or waste, check the minerals and waste validation checklist
• use the fee calculator on the planning portal to work out what it will cost (in most, but not all cases there is a fee)
• view advice note explaining the requirements of Regulations 75 to 77 of the Conservation of Habitats Regulations 2017 
• on 16 March 2022, Natural England notified Dorset Council of their updated advice on nutrient neutrality for development proposals within the catchments of internationally protected habitats sites. More information is available on our Nutrient Neutrality page

Please be aware that documentation submitted in support of an application will be published on the Council’s website in order to facilitate the planning process.  Personal data will be redacted in accordance with our data protection policies. If you are providing information that is confidential please reference this in the file name or mark it clearly for our attention. Where confidentiality would affect the transparency of the planning process (e.g. certain viability information) then we will contact you to discuss.