Rates information
On this page:
- Understanding your 2026–27 rates notice
- Having difficulty paying your rates?
- Rebate forms
- Landscape Levy
- Council Rates Fact Sheets
Understanding your 2026–27 rates notice
This year, your rates notice may look a little different following Council's recent Rating Review.
Download the Rates Flyer for a guide to reading your rates notice, including a sample notice and an explanation of each of the charges.
Having difficulty paying your rates?
If you have (or are likely to have) difficulty meeting rate payments, please contact the Council's Rate Administration on (08) 8558 0200 before the rates fall into arrears to discuss options that may be able to assist you. Depending on your circumstances, there are short-term (ie. payment plans) and longer-term (ie. Postponement of Rates) options that may be available to you. These enquiries are treated confidentially.
Declaration of Rates
Declared differential general rates based upon the use of the land as follows:
(a) Residential: 0.303267 cents in the dollar;
(b) Commercial-Shop: 0.303267 cents in the dollar;
(c) Commercial-Office: 0.303267 cents in the dollar;
(d) Commercial-Other: 0.409410 cents in the dollar;
(e) Industry-Light: 0.367981 cents in the dollar;
(f) Industry-Other: 0.409410 cents in the dollar;
(g) Primary Production: 0.303267 cents in the dollar;
(h) Vacant Land: 0.606534 cents in the dollar; and
(i) Other: 0.303267 cents in the dollar.
In respect of the 2026/2027 financial year and pursuant to Section 152(1)(c) of the Local Government Act 1999, Council hereby fixes the sum of $200.00 as the fixed charge component payable by way of rates in respect of rateable land within the area.
Please contact the Council office for details of the land use applicable to your property.
Waste Service Charge
The cost of waste collection and treatment is now shown separately on Rates Notices rather than being included within general rates. This change provides a fairer distribution of costs by ensuring properties contribute based on access to the waste service. The charge does not apply to vacant land or primary production properties without a dwelling.
An annual service charge of $267.75 with respect to all land to which the Council provides or makes available a three-bin collection service;
An annual service charge of $201.75 with respect to all land to which the Council provides or makes available a two-bin collection service.
Rural properties receive discounted charges based on their distance from a waste collection point, in accordance with legislation:
- Up to 500m: Full charge
- More than 500m and up to 2km: 75% charge
- More than 2km and up to 5km: 50% charge
- More than 5km: No charge
The Waste Service Charge applies to all properties where the service is available, regardless of the service being utilised.
Council rates are governed by the Local Government Act 1999 (see Chapter 10 Rates and Charges) which can be found on the Parliamentary website: http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/
Council rates are the single biggest source of revenue for councils. Each financial year a council must adopt a budget and then set the rates according to the revenue needed
Councils have a variety of rating options available and need to determine what is the best method to use for their local community. Options include having a single rate apply to all properties or a different rate according to property uses/location, having a separate rate for a particular purpose in part of a council area, having a service rate or charge for a specific service like septic tank effluent disposal and having a fixed (flat) charge or minimum rate as part of the general rate.
Property values are used as a basis for determining what share of the total rate revenue individual ratepayers are to pay. Councils may use site value (land only), capital value (land plus improvements) or annual value (rental) - the majority use capital value. Councils can use valuations provided by the Valuer-General or a valuer authorised under the Land Valuers Act 1994 engaged by the council - the majority use the Valuer-General. Ratepayers may object to valuations if they consider them to be inaccurate.
To achieve a balanced budget, each council must determine every year what the rate in the dollar needs to be in order to generate the required rate revenue.
Each ratepayer must be given the opportunity to pay their rates in quarterly instalments.
Rebate Forms
Landscape Levy
The regional landscape levy (previously known as the NRM levy) is paid by all ratepayers across South Australia – recognising that all landowners are responsible for sustaining and managing our state’s landscapes for the benefit of all community members.
It’s not a new levy, but it has been improved to help fund the state’s regional Landscape Boards (previously known as NRM Boards).
Regional landscape levies are raised by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board to fund projects and programs to enable landholders, industry and the community to be directly responsible for sustainably managing their region’s landscapes with an emphasis on land and water management, biodiversity and pest animal and plant control.
Who pays the Landscape levy?
The annual landscape levy is paid by the owners of rateable land in the region and appears on Council rate notices. Everyone who lives and works in the region impacts the environment. We all share a responsibility to take care of our land, water, native animals and plants, and ecosystems. Your contribution through the landscape levy will help to fund the vital work needed to care for and enhance these environmental assets. In the Hills and Fleurieu Region, the regional landscape levy is charged to every rateable property (so, if you own more than one property, you will pay a regional landscape levy on each one).
How is the Landscape levy calculated?
Just like Council rates, in the Hills and Fleurieu Region, regional landscape levy contributions are calculated on the value of your land and are then charged annually through your Council rates. Council collects the levy in its area on behalf of your regional landscape levy Board as is required under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, but only acts as a revenue collector and does not retain any levy income.
Find further information about how your regional landscape levy is working for you and your local environment here, visit www.landscape.sa.gov.au or phone 8273 9100.