Residential Property Search

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. Redland's residential form offers a combined domestic conveyance property search (rates, a special water meter read and a domestic building and plumbing search), each of those as a separate search, a rate book inspection, a vacant land search giving sewer connection details, and copies of approved house drainage plans, building plans, plumbing and drainage records and building records. Councils keep building approval documents available for inspection and purchase under schedule 22 of the Planning Regulation 2017. For most class 10 structures (sheds, carports and the like, but not pool fences) that obligation ends 10 years after approval, so older records may no longer exist. Commercial building and plumbing searches and planning searches use separate council forms.

When you need it

• You are buying a house in the Redland City area. Council recommends the combined domestic conveyance property search (item 1) and says no further searches are needed for an existing house.
• You are buying vacant land and need the as constructed sewer main connection details (item 4, sewered properties only).
• You need copies of approved building plans for one approval (item 8) or a package of all building approvals with the decision notices (item 9).
• You need house drainage plans, plumbing compliance certificates or building records such as a Form 21 or Form 16.

1. 1

   Applicant details

   Give your title, name, company, postal address, phones and email, then sign and date. Giving an email address is consent to receive all correspondence electronically.

2. 2

   Search return

   Enter the solicitor or client reference, settlement date, a short description of the matter and who the property is being purchased from.

3. 3

   Owner, purchaser and property

   Give the owner's and purchaser's full names and residential addresses, then the property address and lot and plan number.

4. 4

   Items requested

   Tick each item. For items 8, 10 and 11, say which structure the copies are for, for example the dwelling, pool or shed. Item 12 (council infrastructure as constructed plans) is ordered by email to asconinfo@redland.qld.gov.au, not on this form.

5. 5

   Credit card details

   Complete the Visa or Mastercard section at the top of page 1 with the amount, expiry, name and signature.

• Online: through council's myServices (Do Business, New Search Order) or its online search form, uploading a completed credit card authority.
• Email: rcc@redland.qld.gov.au. Fax: (07) 3829 8765.
• Post: Redland City Council, PO Box 21, Cleveland QLD 4163. In person: at a council customer service centre.
• Timing: allow 5 business days for rates and water searches and 10 business days for other searches. The combined search produces three separate reports.
• Fees: listed on the form (dated 01/07/2026) and in council's fee schedule. Check them before paying.

• The rate book inspection (item 3) is not suitable for property conveyancing, as the form says.
• Item 8 covers one approval only and does not include the decision notice. Choose item 9 if you need every building approval with its decision notice.
• Homes with planning permits, such as home businesses, may also need a health search and a planning search; call council on (07) 3829 8999.