Agricultural development approvals

You may require a permit or licence to develop agricultural land in the Northern Territory. The type of permit or licence you need depends on the way you will use the land and if there are any cultural, environmental and heritage considerations.

Component
Land use and development
Water licences
Cultural heritage protection
Environmental considerations

Land use and development

Find out what permits are required for clearing native vegetation, land use and subdividing land, and how to apply.

Land clearing

Land clearing permits, when land ownership changes, current applications and approvals, appeals

Clearing of native vegetation on pastoral land

How to apply to clear pastoral land in the Northern Territory.

Non-pastoral use of pastoral land

How to get permission to use your pastoral leasehold land for agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, tourism or forestry and advice on the best use of your land

Prepare a land suitability assessment

Water licences

Water resources are available for agricultural development in the NT.

You must apply for a licence to take surface or groundwater, or to trade water for your agricultural development.

Water extraction licence

Find out if you need a licence to take surface water or groundwater in the Northern Territory.

Water trading

How water trading works and how water licence holders can apply to trade water.

Water allocation plans

Water allocation plans sustainably manage and allocate water resources in the NT.

Water data portal

Get access to water data and information including water levels and rainfall in the Northern Territory.

Cultural heritage protection

Agricultural development must consider native title, sacred sites and heritage areas.

Search the NT heritage register

Native title

Rights granted by native title and affected land areas.

Sacred sites review

Recommendations from the review of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act.

Environmental impact assessment

If your development is likely to have a significant impact on the environment, you must refer it to the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) who will decide if an environmental impact assessment is needed.