Property Search Form

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. Rockhampton's form covers financial rates searches (standard or urgent), onsite water meter reads, property owner details requests, limited, standard and full planning certificates, building and plumbing record searches, certificates of occupancy, pool safety certificates, building plan retrieval, road, drainage and flood searches, drainage and services plans, invasive plant searches and health and environment searches. 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. The owner details request is made under section 155 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, which also lets owners, lessees and occupiers of the land or adjoining land inspect the land record free of charge. The form's fact sheets explain each search.

When you need it

• You are buying or selling in the Rockhampton region and need a financial rates search and an onsite water meter read before settlement.
• You need building and plumbing records, which include the sanitary drainage plan, services plan and certificate of classification if available.
• You need copies of building plans, a pool safety certificate, or a flood search for a Fitzroy River property.
• You are buying a business and need a health and environment or invasive plant search.

1. 1

   Customer and property details

   Give the applicant name, postal address, email, phones, solicitor reference, settlement date and debtor number if any, and say whether council may contact you for payment. Give the legal description of every lot and plan and the property location.

2. 2

   Rates and water

   Tick a standard or urgent financial rates search (no water details), and an onsite water meter read with the date wanted. Reads are only done on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. For an owner details request, say whether you are the adjoining owner.

3. 3

   Planning, building and plumbing

   Tick the planning certificate (charged per lot) and the building and plumbing searches needed. ID or authorisation is required for sensitive building plans, such as for banks.

4. 4

   Other searches

   Tick road, drainage and flood searches, plans, invasive plant searches and health and environment searches as needed.

5. 5

   Supporting documents

   For any invasive plant or health and environment search, attach written consent (an email or letter is enough) from the current licensee or environmental authority holder.

• Submit the form to council online, in person or by post. If you submit online, customer service staff will contact you to arrange payment.
• In person: customer service centres at 232 Bolsover Street Rockhampton, 32 Hall Street Mount Morgan and 1 Ranger Street Gracemere.
• By post: cheque or money order payable to Rockhampton Regional Council, PO Box 1860, Rockhampton QLD 4700. By phone: staff call you to take a credit or debit card payment.
• Timing: the form says requests take at least 5 business days. Its fact sheet gives 2 to 5 business days for rates and water searches, 7 for building and plumbing, and 5 to 30 for planning certificates.
• Applications without payment may be returned. Fees are on the 2026-2027 form and council's fees and charges schedule.

• Request settlement payout figures in writing 3 days before settlement. The fact sheet says payout figures are only given for 90 days after the search issues.
• A building and plumbing record search does not include copies of building plans. Order a building plan retrieval request for those; council's page says the owner's signature or consent letter is needed.
• If a search is cancelled after payment but before completion, only 50% of the fee is refunded.