Property Search Request

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 Western Downs form offers partial rates searches (name and address only), standard and urgent rates searches, water meter reads, building records searches, building compliance inspections, limited, standard and full town planning and development certificates, and health searches for licensed premises. The form refers to schedule 23 of the Planning Regulation 2017 for what each planning certificate contains. 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. Council's building searches page says building searches do not include copies of approvals or final inspection certificates; a standard or full planning certificate gives a copy of the approval.

When you need it

• You are buying in the Western Downs and need a rates search, with a separate water meter read for settlement.
• You want council's records of building approvals and final inspections, or an onsite building compliance inspection that identifies any buildings without approval.
• You need a planning and development certificate for the property.
• You are buying a licensed business and need a health records search or inspection.

1. 1

   Customer details

   Give the applicant, address, phone numbers (required for processing), email, preferred delivery (post or email), your reference and contact.

2. 2

   Property details

   Enter the property address, lot on plan, owners, purchasers and proposed settlement date. The owner's phone is only needed for building compliance inspections, to arrange a time.

3. 3

   Lots rated together

   Lots rated together need one search request, so include all the relevant lots. Contact council if you are unsure.

4. 4

   Choose searches

   Tick each search. For building compliance inspections the purchaser must get the current owner's written consent; for health searches, the current licence holder's written consent.

• The form says to email it to CustomerContactCentre@wdrc.qld.gov.au and call council on 1300 268 624 to pay by credit card. Council's building searches page gives info@wdrc.qld.gov.au for building search requests.
• Timing: processing starts once payment is received. Times are in entire working days from receipt on the approved 2026/27 form: rates 7 (urgent 2), building records 10, compliance inspections 10 (urgent 5), planning certificates 5, 10 or 30, health 3 to 7.
• Standard rates searches are not refundable after 3 days, and water meter reads and urgent searches are not refundable. Fees are on the form and in council's fees and charges register.

• Pool safety inspections are not on this form. They are available on request from council's Building Services section.
• A rates search does not include a special meter reading. Order the water meter read separately.
• Where several properties are on one request, council may charge a separate building search fee for each parcel.