• Need a planning or rates certificate? Use our online service to request, pay and receive certificates via email.

• Are you new to the area? Request a copy of our free New Resident's Kit.

Conveyancing certificates are usually required when a property is being purchased or sold.

Make requests for certificates using the:

• online credit card facility; or
• Application for Certificates form (PDF) submitted by mail or over the counter at Council.
  

Types of certificates issued

• Section 149 planning certificates specifying planning requirements and restrictions that apply to a parcel of land.
• Section 603 rating certificates specifying any outstanding rates, charges and debts payable to Council in respect of a parcel of land.
• Section 121ZP and 735A certificates specifying outstanding health and building notices in respect of the land as at the date of the certificate.
• Section 88G certificates for covenants.

Costs for conveyancing certificates

The costs for certificates are set out in Council's Fees and Charges schedule.

Time to process a certificate

The nominated time for the processing of a certificate is ten working days from receipt of the application.

We also provide an "expedite" service with a one working day response from receipt of the application for an additional fee of $88.50 (valid until 30 June 2013). This service is not available over the Christmas/New Year holiday period.

Street address and legal description of the land - what is the difference?

When applying for certificates, the following information is required:

• the lot/s and strata/deposited plan/s (current legal description); and
• the street address.

For example, a street address may be known as No. 2 Smith Street, but the legal description of the land is Lots 1 and 2 on Deposited Plan 12345.

The lot and plan system provides the legal description of the land. The correct legal description is important as Council uses a Lot and Deposited Plan or Strata Plan based system when issuing certificates.

It is the applicant's responsibility to provide accurate and current information regarding the legal description of the property to which the application relates.

Council does not check the accuracy or currency of the information and does not own the copyright for this information.

The legal description of land can be obtained from the Department of Lands Spatial Information Exchange website by navigating to Online Shop/Title Searches and Records/Street Address Inquiry. Applicants must verify all property and lot information with the Department of Lands.

Certificates issued for each lot

Certificates are generated on the lot, not the street address. This is important when applying for section 149, 121ZP and 735A certificates.

Where a street address comprises more than one lot, a separate certificate for each individual lot must be applied for. (For more information refer to the example of No. 2 Smith Street provided above)

This requirement for various certificates does not apply to Section 603 rating certificates where multiple lots will be combined to form the one rating assessment.