Searches - Section 7 & 187 Certificates
The City of Adelaide processes search requests for property information from interested parties. These requests can now be made online.
Who is eligible to apply?
For the purposes of ordering a Search, the Local Government Act 1999 (Section 187) states that a person has an interest in land if, and only if that person is:
- the owner of a registered estate or interest in the land; or
- an occupier of the land; or
- a person who has entered or declares to the Council that he or she proposes to enter into a contract to purchase the land; or
- a mortgagee or prospective mortgagee of the land.
To be able to lodge a request, you first need to Register.
Search fees
Rates or Section 7 and 187 searches are set by the state government. As per Government Gazettes, the fees for the 2024/25 financial year are set at:
- Section 187: $40.25 with 48-hour turnaround
- Section 7: $28.50 with 8-day turnaround
A full search is costed at $40.25 plus $28.50, totalling $68.75, and has an 8-day turnaround.
Please note the above fees are per certificate of title and payment is required upon submission.
The City of Adelaide is unable to provide urgent searches.
How to apply
We provide Council Rates Searches (Section 7) under Section 7 of the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Act 1994 and Chapter 10 of the Local Government Act 1999.
So you can successfully lodge your search request, you'll need the following information for each request:
- a copy of the relevant certificate(s) of title
- the purpose of the request and what relationship the requestor has with the subject land
- payment details in the form of online payment
- the type of search required (full standard search or rates only).
For your convenience we've put together a guide to the online process of requesting Section 7 and 187 Certificates.