If you’re looking to buy or sell property in the Gladstone Region, there are a number of different types of searches and requests Council can assist you with. Checking for historical information on building or planning approvals before buying or developing a property can save you time and money.
Registered users can now lodge and pay for rates, water and development search requests via Council's Online Services.
Rates
Rates search request
- This search involves an inspection of rate payments records, the last billed water meter reading (if connected), a property report that describes the existing flooding conditions that have been identified for a property.
- This report does not include a quote for future rates or a current water meter reading.
Water
Special water meter reading request
- This search provides the current reading on the water meter (if connected).
- This information is used to calculate the amount of water charges that are to be paid by the seller and purchaser on settlement day.
- This report does not identify any charges owing on an account.
Building
Building compliance search
- This search includes a site inspection by a Council officer and a written report about all structures on the property and if they have the right approvals.
- The report does not include details of building applications that are in progress, or previous inspections of structures on the property.
Building records search
This search gives a report on all building applications and approvals on the property for residential or commercial structures, amendments, additions, alterations, swimming pools and encumbrances.
Details are limited to building application number, brief description of proposed building work, and date application was approved.
Checking previous planning approvals
Current and past development approvals, including plans and conditions of approval, are available on Council’s Planning and Development Online tool. Details are available for applications dating back to 1 July 2009. There is no charge for this service.
Planning and development certificates
A planning and development certificate provides potential property owners, lawyers and property developers with information about planning scheme information, infrastructure charges or agreements and development approvals for specific properties. You can request a planning and development certificate for a fee by filling out Council’s Development Services Search Request Form.
Planning and development certificates:
- Do not include copies of development plans and
- Do not outline whether or not the current use of a property is lawful.
There are three types of planning and development certificates. Each provides a different level of information:
Click on the + symbol or the questions below to expand and display each item.
Limited planning and development certificates
Limited certificates provide general planning information for a specific site. These certificates are most often used for due diligence and transferring a property from one person to another. A limited certificate provides:
- A summary of the relevant planning scheme provisions and infrastructure charges resolution.
- Any temporary local planning instrument, state planning instrument.
- Any approval in effect that would vary the planning scheme provisions.
- A copy of any information recorded for the premises in the infrastructure charges register.
Standard planning and development certificates
Standard certificates are generally for businesses and provide the same information contained in a limited certificate as well as a copy of any:
- Decision notices (or negotiated decision notices) for development approvals that have not lapsed and any minor changes or timeframe extensions to these
- Details relating to continuing approvals (approved before 30 March 1998)
- Details of decisions to approve or refuse a historical application for rezoning made under the repealed Local Government (Planning and Environment) Act 1990
- Any compliance certificate/s given under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009
- Any exemption certificate/s for development on the premises given under section 46 of the Planning Act 2016
- Judgement or court order about the development approval (not building works)
- Agreement about a condition of the development approval that Council (or a concurrence agency) is party to
- Infrastructure agreement applying to the premises that Council is party to or where Council received a copy under section 153 of the Planning Act 2016
- Description of any proposed draft amendment/s to the planning scheme.
Full planning and development certificates
Standard certificates are generally for businesses or requested when the sale of land involves a number of land uses operating on the site. Full certificates provide:
- The same information provided in both the limited certificate and standard certificate and;
- Details of any current development approval containing conditions and whether these conditions have been met or not.
- If there was an infrastructure agreement that Council is party to, including:
- Any obligations not fulfilled, including details of the nature and extent of non-fulfilment
- Details of any security given and whether required payment under the security was paid
- Advice about any prosecution for a development offence in relation to the premises both previous and in progress.
Trade Waste searches are recommended when purchasing a commercial property or business that will generate trade waste (e.g. those involving cooking oils). The search is conducted by a trade waste officer who details findings in relation to existing pre-treatment devices in a Trade Waste Inspection report.
- The findings of the inspection will confirm the number and size of pre-treatment devices and that these are appropriately sized for the kitchen fit outs/existing facilities at the time of the inspection.
- The condition, age and the management of these pre-treatment devices.
- If the pre-treatment devices are over eight (8) years old, whether Gladstone Regional Council has undertaken an audit of the pre-treatment devices, and the outcome of the audit.
- If there have been special conditions placed on the existing property/business’s ‘Terms and conditions’ regarding the pre-treatment devices.
To request a search from Council, you can either:
- Lodge and pay for your request via Online Services; or
- Fill out the relevant form and follow the instructions; or
- Contact Council on (07) 4970 0700 or info@gladstone.qld.gov.au for further assistance.
To see other Fact Sheets, hover over the image above and click on an aspect (or symbol such as a fence, house etc). This will display another Fact Sheet for you on that subject.
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