Application for Property Search Rates, Health, Town Planning, Plumbing and Building

Every Queensland council must keep a land record for each parcel of rateable land, showing the owner's name and postal address, the land's description, valuation and the rates and charges levied, including any overdue amounts and interest (Local Government Regulation 2012 s 154). Overdue rates and charges are a charge on the land (Local Government Act 2009 s 95), which is why a buyer checks the rates position before settlement. North Burnett's form says its written search reports are extracted from council's property systems and are accurate when extracted. It covers a rates search (with a water meter reading where applicable), a food premises health inspection report under the Food Act 2006, limited, standard and full planning and development certificates, a building property inspection report, and building and plumbing approvals reports. Planning and development certificates are issued under section 265 of the Planning Act 2016: a limited certificate within 5 business days, a standard within 10 and a full within 30, with the content set by schedule 23 of the Planning Regulation 2017.

When you need it

• You are buying property in the North Burnett region and need the rates, ownership and services position before settlement.
• You want to know what building or plumbing work council has approved, or want council's building surveyor to inspect for illegal building work.
• You are buying a food business and need a health search of the premises.
• You need a planning certificate showing zones, overlays, approvals and infrastructure charges owing.

1. 1

   Applicant and property details

   Give your name, company, reference, postal address, phone and email, then the vendor, purchaser, settlement date, the date the search is needed by, the lot on plan, property address and assessment number if known.

2. 2

   Rates search

   Choose ordinary (5 working days) or urgent (less than 3 working days). Both include a water meter reading where applicable. Contact council if you need a special reading for a specific date.

3. 3

   Health, planning, building and plumbing

   Tick the searches needed. For a food premises health search, contact council's Environment Team for the fee for the business category. Building and plumbing approvals reports list approved works only and take 10 working days.

4. 4

   Inspection details

   For a property inspection report, say whether the building is occupied or vacant and give the name and number of the occupant or the person giving access. You must tell the occupier or owner that the inspection has been requested.

5. 5

   Signatures and payment

   Sign the applicant declaration. The owner signs to consent (every owner if there are several, under company seal for a company). Complete the credit card section on page 3 if paying by card.

• Mail: Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 390, Gayndah QLD 4625.
• Email: admin@northburnett.qld.gov.au. Telephone: 1300 696 272.
• In person: at a council customer administration office, 8:30am to 4:30pm (closed 11:30am to 12:30pm).
• Payment: Visa or MasterCard on the form's credit card section. Fees are printed on the 2026/27 form; check the current version. Urgent planning certificates cost an extra percentage of the fee.

• The building inspection report does not include a boundary survey, plumbing or drainage, sampling or testing, or concealed defects. Major structural defects will be noted.
• Give correct access details. The form warns that a re-inspection fee may be charged if access is not available.
• An existing owner can order a building approvals report at a lower fee than a third party, according to the form.