Rates Only and Flood Search Application

Ipswich City Council takes most property search requests online, and this paper form is the manual alternative for two searches. A Rates Only Property Search Certificate gives current rates information from council's land record for the property (Local Government Regulation 2012 s 154). Buyers order it because overdue rates and charges are a charge on the land (Local Government Act 2009 s 95). A Development Flood Property Report gives technical flood planning information, such as estimated ground levels, flood risk and development levels, based on the flood planning information adopted in Ipswich City Plan 2025. It does not estimate the impact of historic floods. Building and plumbing searches, planning and development certificates and vendor rates certificates use other council forms.

When you need it

• You are acting for a buyer of Ipswich property and need the current rates position, and prefer a paper application to the online service.
• You are planning to build or develop and need the flood planning levels for a lot.
• You are acting for a seller: use council's separate Vendor Rates Certificate Application instead.

1. 1

   Applicant's details

   Give your name, reference number, address, suburb, postcode, phone, mobile, email and ABN. You can also name someone council may give updated rates and search information to.

2. 2

   Property details

   Enter the lot and plan, property address, and the purchaser's and vendor's names.

3. 3

   Searches required

   Mark an X against a Rates Only Property Search Certificate, a Development Flood Property Report, or both. Each takes 5 working days and no urgent service is offered.

4. 4

   Payment

   Complete the credit card section (Visa or Mastercard, card number, expiry, security code, cardholder name and signature, amount authorised), or pay by cheque payable to Ipswich City Council, cash or money order.

• Lodge in person at the Ground Floor, 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich, by post to Ipswich City Council, PO Box 191, Ipswich QLD 4305, or by email to council@ipswich.qld.gov.au.
• Online: council's Property and Rates Search page has an online application paid by Mastercard or Visa. For help with it, email propadm@ipswich.qld.gov.au.
• Applications received after 11.00 am are processed from the next working day. All certificates are returned by email.
• Fees are on the form and in council's 2026-2027 register of fees and charges. The form says incomplete applications, including those without payment, are returned unprocessed.

• If the property is not yet registered with council at the date of application, the search is done on the parent lot.
• Updated rating information is available only verbally, and only for six weeks from the date of application.
• Rates only certificates are generally per lot. Contact council about combined assessments covering several lots. Flood reports need one application per lot.