Property Information Enquiry

Hilltops Council, based in Young, uses this 2026/2027 form (version 14) for the property certificates and searches needed on a sale. Planning certificates are issued by the council under section 10.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. A section 10.7(2) certificate contains the matters prescribed by Schedule 2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021: zoning, the planning instruments and policies that apply, planning controls, and hazards and risks. A section 10.7(5) certificate adds any other relevant information the council holds about the land; councils include that advice voluntarily and the Regulation cannot prescribe it. Anyone can buy a planning certificate, for any purpose. Section 603 of the Local Government Act 1993 lets a council issue a certificate stating the amount (if any) of rates, charges and other amounts due or payable to the council for a parcel of land. Section 603(2) requires the application to be accompanied by the approved fee, which the Office of Local Government sets each year; councils may charge a separate fee for expedited processing. The form also offers outstanding notices certificates (121ZP and 735A, together or separately), a sewer or drainage diagram, a water meter reading and a dwelling entitlement search, each with urgent options.

When you need it

• You are preparing a contract for the sale of land in the Hilltops area and need the planning certificate and drainage diagram.
• You act on a purchase and need the rates certificate, outstanding notices search and a final water read.
• You want to know whether a dwelling can be built on a rural lot (dwelling entitlement search).

1. 1

   Applicant

   Name, postal address, email, phone, fax and reference, and your instructions for return: post, collect or email.

2. 2

   Description of property

   House number, street, locality, lot(s), DP or SP, portion, parish, section, county, area of land, any additional property details and the nature of the property (vacant land, house, flats).

3. 3

   Owners and purchasers

   Owner's name and address, the purpose of the enquiry, and the purchaser's name, address and purchase price.

4. 4

   Certificates requested

   Tick each certificate, then any expediency (urgent) fee. Planning certificates, drainage diagrams and outstanding notices have 3-5 day and 1 day urgent options; there are also urgent options for the 603 certificate, water meter reading and dwelling entitlement search. Enter the total.

• Send to Hilltops Council, Locked Bag 5, Young NSW 2594, or email mail@hilltops.nsw.gov.au. Phone 1300 445 586.
• The form does not say how to pay; contact the council to arrange payment when you lodge.
• A fee applies to each certificate and the council publishes its current amounts each financial year. Check the current fee schedule before paying, as printed amounts change on 1 July.

• Outstanding notices cover two Acts: 735A (Local Government Act 1993) and 121ZP (now Schedule 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979). Ordering both together costs less than two separate searches.
• The dwelling entitlement search is the one to order if the buyer plans to build on rural land.