City of Gold Coast is required by law to levy a general rate or differential general rate on every rateable property each financial year. The general rate raises the revenue needed to run the city and pay for infrastructure, and a range of services and activities.

Please see our Rating Category Statement for a summary of the categories used to rate properties in the city of Gold Coast. Refer to the Table of Differential Rating Categories and Rates in the Revenue Statement and Ratings Resolutions for a summary of Council of the City of Gold Coast's annual differential general rate values for each category.

The value of your property, determined by the State Government's Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME), is the basis for calculating the general rate. Contact DNRME on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or visit a DNRME office for enquiries about land valuations. Find your annual land valuation on the DNRME website.

A property's rating category is assessed based upon property use, e.g. owner-occupier, permanent or tourist rental, commercial, etc., in conjunction with the City Plan. Where the rateability of the land alters during the year, pro rata adjustments of the differential general rate are made in accordance with Local Government Act 2009 section 93 and Local Government Regulation 2012 Chapter 4, Part 9, Division 2 (Section 109 et seq) (whichever provision is relevant to the context), from the date of the alteration.

To smooth out increases in the General Rate caused by unexpected spikes in property values in any given year, the City uses an averaged value over three years. To determine the general rate amount to be applied to the rate notice, this value is then multiplied by the differential general rate for the rating category. A minimum general rate applies if the value of a property is below a determined threshold.

Change in rating category: If the status of your property changes, for example, from a rental property to owner-occupier or from resident to rental, please let us know and we will forward you the data collection form so we can update your general rate category accordingly.

The State Government Emergency Management Levy is collected on behalf of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services for the provision of these vital services.

All rateable properties within the City must pay the levy. The amount of the levy is dependent upon factors such as the use made of the land, the size and nature of any improvements on the property and the location (whether in or out of the Urban fire service boundary).

Please note: The Emergency Management Levy was reformed from the Urban Fire Levy from 1 January 2014.

The City Transport Improvement Charge funds Council cabs, bus stops, bicycle and pedestrian pathways, rapid transport and improvements to local roads, as well as expanded bus services across the city.

The Koala Habitat Acquisition and Enhancement Separate Charge funds the purchase of land for koala habitat within the city. Find out more about our koala fund.

The Open Space Charge assists the City to purchase land of specific environmental significance so that the city's natural environment, as well as threatened native plant and animal species, can be protected and preserved.

Open Space maintenance and enhancement

Gold Coast ratepayers contribute annually to an Open Space Maintenance and Enhancement Separate Charge (OSMESC). This contribution supports a wide range of activities and initiatives to manage and maintain the city’s natural asset network and is fundamentally important toward achieving the city’s 51 per cent native vegetation coverage target. These include:

• management of City of Gold Coast’s existing natural area reserves (bushfire management, ecological restoration, weed and feral animal control) and provision of nature-based recreation activities (walking tracks, Naturally GC workshops and programs);
• conservation partnerships program (including the Land for Wildlife and Voluntary Conservation Agreement Schemes);
• strategic planning for the city, including City Plan updates; and
• vulnerable species management (Koala Conservation Plan).

City-managed natural areas have doubled since 2006 and now cover around 13,652 hectares. In order to effectively maintain these areas, continued and sustainable investment is important to minimise ongoing maintenance and management costs, enhance the activation of nature based recreation experiences and work toward 51 per cent native vegetation and condition targets.

Significant on ground achievements have been realised through collecting and expending the separate charge, and through a sustained effort it will contribute to retaining one of the most biodiverse cities in Australia.

The Recreational Space Charge assists the City to purchase areas of large open space, with an emphasis on land for sport and recreation.

The Waste Management Utility Charge covers the cost of collection and disposal/processing of solid waste and recyclables from your property.