Search Application

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. The Southern Downs form offers a finance-only property search, standard and urgent property searches that add infrastructure and zoning details, a land record search (property and owner details only), water meter readings, residential and commercial building records searches with or without an onsite inspection, limited, standard and full planning certificates, and health inspections of food premises, rental accommodation, caravan parks and personal appearance services. 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 in the Southern Downs and need the ownership, valuation, rates and charges position, with or without infrastructure and zoning details.
• You only need the owner and property details (land record property search).
• You need council's building records for a house or commercial building, or an onsite building inspection.
• You are buying a food business, rental accommodation, caravan park or personal appearance business and need a health inspection.

1. 1

   Applicant details

   Give the applicant's full name, business, reference, contact name and position, postal address, phones, email and ACN or ABN (with ANZSIC code if applicable). Results are emailed, and originals are not posted.

2. 2

   Application particulars

   Enter the application and settlement dates, vendors, purchasers, property address, town and legal description (lot and plan). Searches are created on the legal description you give; if it is wrong, any further application is treated as new and new fees apply.

3. 3

   Choose searches

   Tick each search. For a water meter reading, give the date wanted and check with council first that a meter is connected; meter reading fees are not refundable.

4. 4

   Onsite inspection details

   For any search marked OSI, give the owner's or occupier's name, phone and email so council can arrange access.

5. 5

   Payment and signature

   Choose credit card, cheque or in person. If paying by card, give a contact name and phone number and a customer service officer will call. Each applicant signs the certification.

• Email: mail@sdrc.qld.gov.au.
• Mail: The CEO, Southern Downs Regional Council, PO Box 26, Warwick QLD 4370.
• In person: Warwick office, 64 Fitzroy Street, or Stanthorpe office, 61 Marsh Street.
• Times on the form: finance-only search within 3 full working days, standard 5, urgent 2; building records 5 (urgent 2); limited certificate 5, standard 10, full 30; health inspections 10.
• Fees are printed on the 2026/2027 form (version 4). Check the current version before paying.

• Check the lot and plan carefully before you submit; a wrong legal description means a new application and new fees.
• If you order an urgent property search, the water meter reading is done within 3 full working days instead of 5.