Rates
The City of Adelaide is committed to giving consideration and assistance to rate payers experiencing financial hardship. If you require support during this period, please complete the Rates Financial Hardship form below, which will allow us to assess your eligibility for financial hardship assistance.
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A local tax used to fund services that benefit the greater community
Your City of Adelaide rates can be paid in full annually in September, or on a quarterly basis. Payments are due in September, December, March and June. Monthly payments are available via direct debit only.
Paying your rates
The City of Adelaide provides a variety of ways for you to pay your rates.
City of Adelaide recommends using Google Chrome, Apple Safari, or Microsoft Edge for an optimal user experience when accessing our payment website.
You can pay your rates payments electronically using the following methods. Remember, you’ll need to have your current rates notice showing your assessment number handy.
Credit Card online: pay your rates quickly and securely. (Mastercard or Visa only).
BPAY / BPAY View: use Biller Code - 36095. You will need to have your Assessment Number available. Enter including the digit (without spaces).
Australia Post Bill Pay: use Biller Code - 0961.
The City of Adelaide allows you to choose between annual, quarterly or monthly deductions from your nominated bank account.
Annual deductions will be debited on 30 September.
Quarterly deductions will be debited on 30 September, 1 December, 1 March and 1 June.
Monthly deductions will be debited the same day the quarterly amounts are due 30 September, 1 December, 1 March and 1 June. No additional costs apply. All other remaining months the payment will be taken on the last Friday of the month. Where Friday is a public holiday, the payment will be taken on the next business day.
Please note: direct debits will remain in place until you advise The City of Adelaide that you wish for them to cease.
You can pay your rates:
In-person
Remember to bring your Rates Assessment Notice with you.
Post
Your cheque should be crossed 'Not Negotiable' and money orders made payable to City of Adelaide. Remember to include the detachable section of your Rates Assessment Notice.
You can also pay in-person at an Australia Post outlet or by phone on 13 18 16.
Your rates
As a Capital City Council, the City of Adelaide has a higher level of properties that are rented (residential) or leased (commercial) compared to other South Australian Councils.
As such the City of Adelaide uses the ‘Annual Value’ method of valuing which is based on the potential annual rental that a property might reasonably be expected to realise (regardless of if a property is owner-occupied or not).
The ‘Annual Value’ method of rating has been used for many years by the City of Adelaide and is considered consistent with the principles in our Rating Policy, including equity, ability to pay, efficiency and simplicity principles of taxation.
The Local Government Act 1999 and The Valuation of Land Act 1971, provide Council the ability to undertake our valuations in this way.
For the tenth consecutive year, Council is freezing the general rate in the dollar for both Residential and Non-Residential ratepayers. This results in the 2023/24 rate in the dollar being at the same level as it was in 2013/14.
Separate rates will continue to be levied for the purposes of managing and marketing the Rundle Mall Precinct and to recover funds on behalf of the Regional Landscape Levy.
The parameters and factors considered by Council are outlined in the 2023/24 Business Plan and Budget.
A summary of Council's 2023/24 Business Plan and Budget is sent to each ratepayer along with the first quarterly Rates and Valuation Notice.
The Local Government Association of South Australia produces fact sheets about council rates and services.
Changes to our rating Policy
For the 2021/22 financial year Council approved the following changes to the Rating Policy.
Pensioners and Self-Funded Retiree Rebate
In 2015, the State Government introduced the Cost-of-Living Concession, replacing the council administered rate concession scheme.
Since then, the City of Adelaide has continued to provide a Pensioner and Self-Funded Retiree Rebate to eligible ratepayers.
However, as the State Government provides a “Cost of Living Concession” payment that may be used for any purpose, including offsetting Council rates, the availability of the City of Adelaide Pensioner and Self-Funded Retiree Rebate ceased commencing the 2021/22 financial year.
To check eligibility for State Government Concessions, you can visit the ConcessionsSA website www.sa.gov.au/concessions or phone 1800 307 758.
Should you be eligible for a State Government funded concession this will be paid directly to you by the Department of Human Services and is not provided via your rates notice.
Vacant Land
To discourage long-term vacant land holdings and encourage economic development with the city, from the 2021/22 financial year we introduced an increased rate for vacant land properties.
In looking to define long-term vacant land consideration has been given to our understanding of development time frames. These can reasonably take up to five (5) years to progress through planning, pre-sales, and construction phases.
For the purposes of the Rating Policy, the definition of long term will be five (5) years or more for land held by the current owner.
The discretionary rebate powers available to Council under Section 166 of the Act will provide a rebate (rate relief) to the principal ratepayers of vacant land that is not within the definition of “long term”.
There are a few small parcels of vacant land within the City of Adelaide boundary on separate titles that form part of a rear garden, a side gate entrance or other small piece of adjacent land that may not be able to be developed in their own right. Where it is clear the land cannot be developed the rebate entitlements under Section 166 of the Act will be applied.
City of Adelaide rates are determined by multiplying the applicable rate in the dollar by the valuation of rateable land in the Council area. Property valuations for the purpose of calculating rates payable are prepared on the basis of ‘Annual Value’.
Annual Value is defined in the Valuation of Land Act 1971 and is computed as 75% of the gross annual rental that the land might reasonably be expected to realise if leased upon condition that the landlord was liable for all rates, taxes, insurance and other outgoings necessary to maintain the value of the land.
Additional allowances are applied in relation to depreciation of certain plant and equipment.
Annual Value is the preferred valuation method as it reflects the predominant basis of occupancy across the city. The method is considered consistent with the equity, ability to pay, efficiency and simplicity principles of taxation.
For 2023/24, a revaluation of properties across the city to current values and growth from new developments and other capital improvements undertaken during 2022/23 are projected to increase the total rateable value of land, resulting in an increase in rate revenue.
The parameters and factors considered by Council are outlined in the annual Business Plan and Budget.
A summary of Council's latest Business Plan and Budget is sent to each ratepayer along with the first quarterly Rates and Valuation Notice.
The rates in the dollar for the 2023-24 year have been set at:
- Residential rate: 0.1149
- Non-residential rate: 0.1408
- Vacant Land Rate: 0.2298
- Regional Landscape Levy: 0.00180
- Rundle Mall Separate Rate: 0.03262
Ratepayers have the right to object to the valuation of a property. Objections must be lodged in writing or electronic equivalent within 60 days after the service of the first such notice for the financial year. Council may extend the 60 day objection period where it can be shown there is reasonable cause to do so by a person entitled to make an objection.
Differential rates (and or charges) imposed by rates (and or charges) are still due and payable by the due date even if an objection has been lodged.
To object please follow the link below, a written or an electronic equivalent objection to valuation must set out the full and detailed grounds for objection.
Objecting to a valuation and/or land use does not change the date for payment of council rates. Rates must be paid in full by the due date as shown on the Rates and Valuation Notice.
The City of Adelaide will review all valid objections and advise the ratepayer in writing once assessed. Changes to the rates payable arising from an objection will be refunded (or charged) separately once the objection has been finalised.
Differential General Rates imposed by the Council are based on various Land Use Categories. Should you have any reason to believe that the Land Use Category applied to your account is incorrect, you may lodge an objection to Council outlining the grounds upon which your objection is based.
To object please follow the link below, objections must be lodged in writing or electronic equivalent within 60 days after the service of the first such notice for the financial year.
Please note, objecting to a valuation and/or land use does not change the date for payment of council rates. Rates must be paid in full by the due date as shown on the Rates and Valuation Notice.
The City of Adelaide will review all valid objections and advise the ratepayer in writing once assessed. Changes to the rates payable arising from an objection will be refunded (or charged) separately once the objection has been finalised.
Ratepayers who feel dissatisfied with the outcome of the objection can apply for a Valuer-General Panel Valuer for further review or may apply to SACAT for a review of the decision.
If you are still dissatisfied with the valuation after the further review, you may apply to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT). This must be completed within 21 days from the day you receive notice of the Objection decision. Please note that statutory fees apply for undertaking the review.
The Local Government Act 1999 provides that a Valuation must be amended if the Panel Valuer determines a valuation change by more than 10 per cent (above or below the valuation). Should such variation result in a reduction by more than 10 per cent, the fee will be refunded.
The Regional Landscape (RL) Levy (previously known as the NRM Levy) is a State Tax. Councils are required under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 to collect the levy on all rateable properties on behalf of the State Government.
The levy helps to fund the operations of regional landscape boards who have responsibility for the management of the States natural resources. These responsibilities include regional landscape planning, water allocation planning, community capacity building, education and compliance.
For further information regarding this levy, or the work the levy supports, please visit the Green Adelaide Board at:
Need more information?
The Local Government Association of South Australia produces fact sheets about council rates and services.
If you have a question specifically about your City of Adelaide rates, please refer to the Council’s Rating Policy or contact the Customer Centre: