Set up a payment plan to make payments more manageable for your budget. Payments will be calculated to make sure you are paying your ongoing rates, charges and arrears.

Contact us to discuss what options may suit you before submitting your application.

Cost of Living Concession

The Cost of Living Concession helps people on low or fixed incomes with their general living expenses – like council rates, energy and medical bills. Visit the SA Government website to check your eligibility and find other State Government concessions such as energy, water, sewerage and the Emergency Services Levy.

This concession is paid directly into your nominated bank account from the State Government and will not appear on your rates notice.

SA Government concessions

Rate rebates

Some property types such as schools, churches and some community organisations are eligible for rate rebates. Contact us to find out more.

Postponement of rates for seniors

If you have a State Seniors Card, you can apply to postpone your rates on your principal place of residence.

Financial hardship assistance

Assistance is available if you are having difficulty paying your council rates on time.

Financial hardship assistance

Please contact us as soon as possible if you are having difficulty paying your rates.

If you don’t pay your rates by the due date, you will receive a fine. If this happens:

1. the instalment will be regarded as being in arrears; and
2. a fine of 2% of the amount of the instalment is payable; and
3. on the expiration of each full month from that date, interest at the prescribed percentage of the amount in arrears (including the amount of any previous unpaid fine and including interest from any previous month) will be added.

Debt recovery

In any case where the default in payment of rates (including instalments, fines & interest) occurs, Council may commence proceedings for all amounts due as per our Rates Arrears & Debtor Management Policy. This may include:

1. use of a debt collection service
2. proceedings in any court competent jurisdiction
3. an order requiring an occupier of a property to pay to Council amounts of rent otherwise payable to the owner of the property
4. such other legal processes as deemed appropriate by Council
5. Council will advise the ratepayer in writing of the debt outstanding and inform them that the Council will contact the mortgagee in relation to the overdue rates
6. compulsory sale of property where rates have been in arrears for three years or more.

There is a lot of important information included on your rates notice and some words or charges you may not be familiar with.

We use property values provided to us by the Valuer-General, a State Government office. If you think your property valuation is incorrect, you can lodge an objection to the valuation within 60 days of receipt of your first quarter rates notice. The Valuer-General may extend the 60 day objection period if there is reasonable cause to do so by a person entitled to make an objection.

Objections must be made in writing and set out the full and detailed grounds for the objection, including any supporting information.

Your rates are still due and payable by the due date even if an objection has been lodged.

Objections can be lodged with the Office of the Valuer-General by:

• Online form
• In person: Land Services SA, Level 9, 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide
• Post: Office of the Valuer-General, GPO Box 1354, Adelaide SA 5001
• Email: OVGobjections@sa.gov.au

Contact the Office of the Valuer-General for more information

📞 1300 653 346

Differential general rates are based on various land use codes. If you think your property's land use code is incorrect, you can lodge an objection with us, in writing, within 60 days of receipt of your first quarter rates notice.

Objections must be made in writing and provide details of the land use code that you consider would be correct and any supporting information. Please be aware that some changes may require planning consent.

Your rates are still due and payable by the due date even if an objection has been lodged. If your objection is upheld, your rates notice will be amended.

Objections to land use code can be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer and sent by:

• Email to info@apc.sa.gov.au
• Post to PO Box 18, Mallala SA 5502