The protection afforded by a Heritage Overlay varies in each instance, though the controls apply to built structures and their associated land.
The minimum level of protection is afforded by the mere existence of the overlay and means that any work at all to the building or site will require a planning permit, ensuring that a higher level of scrutiny automatically occurs, regardless of any specific control measures cited.
Exemptions from permits can be achieved via a site specific exclusion or an incorporated plan listed in the schedule to the overlay.
Each planning scheme will have a set of maps which indicate the location of overlay controls.
Associated with the maps is a schedule listing every individual overlay in that planning scheme according to the following criteria: An easy to follow description of how to read a heritage overlay and the different related documents is found at the City of Ballarat Website - What is a Heritage Overlay.