Property searches

A conveyancing search can be undertaken upon request and payment to Council. The fees for the current financial year are available on our Fees & Charges(PDF, 7MB) .

Types of searches are:

• Rates/Property (allow a minimum of five business days)
• Rates Financial Search (allow a minimum of three business days)
• Special Water Meter Reading (only read on Tuesday & Thursday. Application must be received two days prior to reading date and allow three business days after the read date for completion)
• Building compliance (Standard five business days & Urgent two business days).
• Copies of Certificate of Classification or Final Inspection Certificate (allow five business days)
• Building Approved Plans (allow five business days)
• Planning and Development Certificates (time varies dependent on the type of planning and development certificate requested)
• Plumbing search (allow five business days). This search is relevant if the customer wishes to know of any plumbing issues prior to a contract going unconditional.

Please note: Please check with your client or with Council if you are unsure whether this parcel is connected to a water meter and if a reading is required. A refund of a special water meter reading fee will not be given where the property is not connected to a water meter.

The conveyancing search application form 'Application for Rates Property Search / Building Search & Special Water Meter Reading' found below must be completed and returned to Council with the applicable fee. All enquiries are to be directed to Council's Revenue Department.

View Conveyancing Search application form

Council will only accept search requests submitted using this application form. Applications can be submitted via post, email or in person.

All conveyancing search results will be returned via email.

Applications will only be processed upon receipt of payment. Applications are unable to be cancelled once processed.

View Conveyancing Search application form

Council recommends this search when purchasing a property and includes the following:

• Ownership details
• Property address and real property description including area of property
• Rateable valuation information
• Rates and water levies including any arrears, interest and concessions
• Property zoning information
• Sundry property debt if applicable
• If property is in benefitted water and sewerage areas and if connected to water or sewerage
• Flood advice – provides link to a free flood report
• Sewerage/Stormwater plan if sewerage main traverses the land
• Acknowledgment of permit, licences or regulatory advices if required
• Any requisitions or other advices if required

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This search is for consumption charges that have not yet been billed (water readings and consumption that will be billed on future notices).

Council recommends this search when purchasing a property connected to Council’s reticulated water supply. Meters are read on Tuesday and Thursday only.

Applications must be received two business days prior to the 'Date to be Read' and allow three business days after 'Date to be Read' for completion.

Please check with Council if you are unsure whether the parcel is connected to water and if a reading is required. A refund will not be given where the property is not connected to a water meter.

Information provided is:

• Ownership details
• Real property description
• Meter details (Location/Meter number)
• The current water meter read, date of read and calculation of charges.
• The previous water meter read, date of read and calculation of charges.
• Calculation of charges on special water meter Reading are un-posted and therefore are not included on the rates property search.
• Building Compliance Search or Copy of Certificate of Classification or Final Inspection Certificate

Conveyancing Search application form

This compliance search relates to a search of Council records for Plumbing approvals on the requested property. A physical inspection of the premises will not been performed by Council in preparing this information.

Conveyancing Search application form

Council can provide a range of building information to confirm whether building work on your property has been approved or requires finalisation, or to obtain a copy of approved building plans.

Before undertaking these searches, it is advised to contact Council’s building administration team to ensure that the search function is best suited to your enquiry.

Building Approved plans

If you require a copy of building approved plans on your property, it is necessary to complete a Building Plans Request form and pay the relevant fee for the particular plan search that you are requesting.

Request for Building Plans

Building Compliance search

If you require a Building Compliance Search, a copy of Certificate of Classification or a copy of Final Inspection Certificate for your property, it is necessary to complete the Application for Rates Property Search, Building Search and Special Water Meter Reading form and pay the relevant fee for the particular search that you are requesting.

This compliance search relates to a search of Council records for building approvals on the requested property. A physical inspection of the premises will not be performed by Council in preparing this information.

View Application for Rates Property Search, Building Search and Special Water Meter Reading Form

Please note: all requests may incur photocopying and mailing charges.

In accordance with Section 265 of the Planning Act 2016, a person may apply to Council for a limited, standard or full Planning and Development Certificate for premises.

For more information about the different types of Planning and Development Certificates, timeframes and how to apply for one, please view Council’s Fact Sheet: Planning and Development Certificate(PDF, 498KB) . To identify the appropriate type of Planning and Development Certificate to suit the nature of your enquiry you should seek independent legal advice.

To apply for a Planning and Development Certificate, customers must complete Council’s Planning Services Search Request Form and pay the relevant fee for the particular certificate type. The applicable fee is specified in Council’s Fees and Charges Register.

To access information on development applications lodged with Council, including proposal documentation and status information on where an application is in the assessment process, please visit Council’s PD Online service.

Application for Inspection of Land Record. This application provides for adjoining owners (ie fencing purposes) receipt listings, transaction summaries and rate notice copies. Some charges do not apply if you are the current owner however if you are not the current owner and requesting details for a property that you used to own, charges may be applicable and must be paid prior to the request being processed.

Details are listed on the form. To lodge this form to Council, please email ceo@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.

View Inspection of Land Record form here.