Understanding your rates
How we calculate your rates
This page provides a brief explanation about how we calculate your rates.
General rate
Redland City Council uses a differential rating scheme to calculate properties' general rate. This is a fair and equitable way of charging according to land use.
Calculations are based on:
- Land valuations set by Queensland Government's Department of Resources https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/title/valuation
- Check your 2026 land valuation - on 11 March 2026, the Queensland Government issued new land valuations for 15 local government areas, including Redland City. Redland City Council does not determine these valuations, but they are used when calculating how much landowners pay in general rates. The new valuation will be used to calculate the general rate you’ll pay from your next rates notice in July. If you disagree with your valuation, landowners had the right to object on certain grounds during the Queensland Government's objection period, which closed on 11 May 2026. You can find out more on the Queensland Government's 2026 Land Valuations webpage.
- Land use category - there are 35 categories in Redland City (refer to Revenue Statement(PDF, 3MB))
Council charges
Below is a list of all council charges that can be included in a rate notice. Not all charges are applicable to everyone.
- Environment & Coastal Management Charge
- Landfill remediation charge
- Redland City SES Administration charge
- Waste and recycling charge
- Water charges:
- Fixed access water charge
- Water consumption charge
- Wastewater fixed access charge
- Trade waste charge
Queensland State Government charges
The following charges are collected by Redland City Council on behalf of the Queensland State Government.
- Emergency management levy
- Bulk water consumption charge
For more detail on how rates and charges are calculated, you can refer to these two documents:
Fee for printed rate notices
The Paper Notice fee for the 2026-27 financial year is $1.80 inc GST for printed notices issued through the mail. This move aims to reduce impacts of paper notices on the community’s overall budget. Residents are encouraged to switch to receiving their rates notice via email to avoid the fee being applied.
Switch to e‑rates to avoid fees
- Online: visit myServices to register or log in, and in myProperties, select ‘Send Rate Notice By Email’
- Contact us
Comparing rates to other council areas
Rating categories are rarely comparable between councils, as no two are identical.
Comparing rates, water, sewerage, refuse and separate charges does not take into account the different services offered by councils, the geography of the council areas, the size of the ratepayer base who share the cost, or the mix of residential, commercial and other rate paying categories that contribute to rate revenue.
Most councils in south-east Queensland do not own water businesses. Their residents receive a rates notice from the local council and water notices from completely different organisations. Separate rates and water notices make it very clear which are not Council charges.
Along with Logan and Gold Coast, Redland City Council is one of just three councils in the region that is also a water retailer. We buy directly from the bulk supplier, Seqwater, and supply water to your Redlands property. Our rates notice includes all water costs in the one notice. This includes the bulk water charge – the largest portion of your water consumption charge – which Council is simply passing on from the Queensland Government.
It is important to remember that most other councils don’t include water charges on their rates notices so comparison of total amounts is not a reliable comparison.
Lodging an objection to your rating category
If you disagree with the rating category on your rate notice, you can lodge an objection – refer to Revenue Statement(PDF, 3MB). This needs to be done within 30 days of the issue date on the rate notice.
Notice of objection to rating category form(PDF, 242KB)
Change of ownership
Redland City Council cannot change the details on a property's title deed. We can only record a change of ownership after receiving an official notification from the Department of Resources.
If you wish to change your title deed, we suggest you contact a solicitor or the Department of Resources website.
Redland City Council charges an administration fee for recording a change of ownership. There are exemptions to this fee, listed on the form below.
When a property is sold, the seller and buyer negotiate the rates and charges due at the time of settlement.
Redland City Council does not enter into negotiations or issue new or amended rate notices after receiving change of ownership notifications.
Apply for an exemption
Exemption of change of ownership form(PDF, 60KB)
Are you moving?
Whether you have sold your property or not, if you are moving to a new address, you must inform Redland City Council of your new address to ensure your contact details are current.
Tell us you've moved
Reduced charges for adjoining properties
Rates are calculated per allotment. If you own two or more allotments with common boundaries the following options are available to you to reduce your rates:
Land amalgamation by resurveying into single allotment (One Title Deed)
Landowners are required to contact a licensed surveyor to organize for a new plan to be prepared to resurvey 2 or more adjoining allotments into one single allotment. The new plan is registered at Titles Office by the owner or their nominee. The Titles Office will cancel the existing Title Deeds and create a new Title Deed for the new allotment. Once registered, Council will receive a copy of the new plan. Council will process the new plan which will result in one valuation and one set of utility/service charges.
Land amalgamation for rating purposes (retaining individual Title Deeds)
Landowners must contact the Department of Resources to request an amalgamation for rating purposes. This will result in the individual lots being retained and only one amalgamated land valuation is allocated. Utility/Service charges are applied on a per allotment basis.
Property owners interested in an amalgamation for rating purposes should contact the Department of Resources through the Titles Registry office.