Buying a home

Rate Certificate

Council recommends this search when purchasing any type of property within the region.  Information provided on a rates certificate includes the following:

• Current registered owner and postal address details
• Property address and real property description
• Land Area and approved zoning
• Unimproved and rateable valuation
• Rates and charges levied for the rating period
• Full rates financial information, any arrears and interest outstanding on the property
• Any outstanding building or plumbing requisitions registered on the property
• Any outstanding health notices registered on the property
• Any planning or other conditions registered on the property
• If a water meter is connected to the property

Registered Proprietor

A registered proprietor search provides the following information:

• Current registered owner and postal address details
• Property address and real property description
• Land area and approved zoning

For details of adjoining property owners’, please contact council’s call centre to discuss prior to completing the registered proprietor search application.

Certificate of Classification or Certificate of Occupancy (From 1/10/2020

Certificates of Classification or Certificate of Occupancy are available for Class 2-9 buildings (Commercial / Industrial Buildings and some units), and are issued when a building is completed to the satisfaction of a Building Certifier.

If a certificate of classification has not been previously issued for Class 2-9 (Commercial / Industrial Buildings and some units) building approvals that were approved prior to April 1998, council will carry out an inspection and issue a certificate upon written request.  An inspection fee is required for this service.

Building & Plumbing Records Search

A BPRS provides information about what building and plumbing approvals are recorded against a property in council’s records.

For more information download the building and plumbing record search factsheet.

Limited Planning and Development Certificate

Information supplied in a certificate:

• Street address and real property description
• Description of any Planning Scheme provisions applying specifically to the premises, including Locality, Zone, Precinct, Sub-Precinct, Overlay(s), Notation(s) (this information also available for free from MiMAPS)
• Description of any designations applying the premises
• Statement of any infrastructure charge for the premises

Standard Planning and Development Certificate

In addition to the information supplied with a Limited Planning & Development Certificate:

• A copy of every Decision Notice or Negotiated Decision Notice for a Development Approval that has not lapsed
• details of any minor change to the Development Approval
• A copy of any agreement to which the Local Government or Concurrence Agency is a party about a condition of the Development Approval
• A copy of any Infrastructure Agreement applying to the premises to which the Local Government is a party
• A description of each proposed amendment of a Planning Scheme the Local Government has decided to proceed with under Schedule 1, Section 16, of the Local Government Act but has not been adopted

Full Planning and Development Certificate

In addition to information supplied with a Limited and Standard Planning & Development Certificate:

• If there is currently in force for the premises a Development Approval containing conditions (including conditions about the carrying out of works or the payment of money, other than under an Infrastructure Agreement) - a statement about the fulfilment or non-fulfilment of each condition, at a stated day after the day the certificate was applied for
• If there is an Infrastructure Agreement to which the Local Government is a party: (i) if there are obligations under the agreement that have not been fulfilled - details of the nature and extent of the obligations not fulfilled; and (ii) details of the giving of any security and whether any payment required to be made under the security has been made
• Advice of: (i) any prosecution for a development offence in relation to the premises of which the Local Government is aware; or (ii) proceedings for a prosecution for a development offence in relation to the premises of which the Local Government is aware

Zoning information

Zoning information can be obtained for free by accessing MiMAPS where you can find property descriptions and print maps.

If you require further information in relation to allowable uses within a zone, complete the planning advice enquiry online form, or make an appointment to see the Planning Advice team with council's Customer Service Centre.

Health (Licensed Premises) Requisition Enquiry

Contains information on the following:

• Search of council records to indicate last correspondence or current status, physical inspection not conducted
• Outstanding license fees

Health (Licensed Premises) Inspection

Contains information on the following:

• Physical inspection of premises conducted, search of council records, and compliance report issued
• Outstanding licence fees

Final inspection

If, at the time of building (for approvals issued prior to July 1998), a final inspection was either not carried out or not 'acceptable', a compliance inspection for a single permit can be requested. The purpose of this type of inspection is to determine whether the structure has been built in accordance with the approved plans. However, if the building was constructed after July 1998, please contact the Private Building Certifier who approved the building's permits and carried out the final inspection.

To request a final inspection for a Council approval, please complete the Building Plumbing Inspection Application.

Council will issue a certificate on completion of the inspection.