Buying guide

Council rates explained: a home owner’s guide

(Including average rates by city)

Ben Tutty
Last updated: 3 February 2025 | 4 min read
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Council rates are a tax for property owners that fund local services like waste collection and parks. Your bill is based on your property's Capital Value (CV), which combines land and improvement values and is updated every three years. A higher CV generally means higher rates.

You may also pay targeted rates for specific services. Low-income homeowners can apply for a rates rebate to reduce their bill. Payments can typically be made annually, quarterly, or monthly.

What are council rates?

How are city council rates calculated?

Homeowners pays rates based on their location and the value of their property.

Your ratings valuation is based on three things:

What about targeted rates?

What is a rates rebate?

Paying rates is easy. Most councils allow you to do it online.

How do I pay rates?

How much should I expect to pay for council rates?

Author

Ben Tutty Ben Tutty
Content Writer