Rates information

If you believe your Differential General Rate category is incorrect you may object. The only grounds for objection is that you believe your property should be in another category. Objections should be lodged within 30 days from the issue of the rate notice using the Differential General Rate objection form (DOCX, 300KB).

If you lodge an objection the rates and charges levied continue to be due and payable by the due date. 

If you do not wish to pay in full and have no outstanding rates from a prior rating period, there is also the option to set up an interest free payment plan. Payment plans will not incur interest charges when payments are maintained.

If the Differential General Rate category is changed as an outcome of the objection, council will adjust the rates and advise you in writing.

If the Differential General Rate is not changed as an outcome of the objection, in accordance with section 92 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, the landowner may appeal to the Land Court within 42 days of receiving the objection outcome from Council.

A principal place of residence (PPR) is defined as a residential dwelling or unit where at least one owner/ratepayer permanently resides. A detailed definition is outlined in the 2025-26 Revenue Statement (to be provided after budget adoption on 7 July 2025). The rating category for a PPR property is different to a property where the owners do not reside. The categories recognise the different use of the land.

To object to a non-PPR category complete a Differential General Rate objection form (DOCX,300KB). You are required to supply supporting documents as proof of residency.

Note: specific supporting documents are required if your ownership is under a Company or Trust. Refer to the Differential General Rate objection form (DOCX, 300KB) for details.

Please refer to the full definitions of each Differential General Rate category as detailed in the Differential General Rates (Section 3.4 Table 1 of the 2025-26 Revenue Statement (to be provided after budget adoption on 7 July 2025) before lodging an objection using the Differential General Rate objection form (DOCX, 300KB).  

A non-domiciled property is defined as a property that is not the owner’s declared residential address and the Differential General Rate category is one of the following 16RT, 16UT, 17RT, 17UT, 18RT, 18UT, 19RT, 19UT, 27T, 29T.  For further details refer to the 2025-26 Revenue Statement (to be provided after 2025-26 Budget Adoption on 7 July 2025).

An owner of a non-domiciled property who has exclusively used the property for 28 days or more in a 6-month rating period may seek a Differential General Rate category adjustment for the period of their use. Complete the Differential General Rate objection form – Transitory Accommodation non-domiciled property owner (DOCX, 575KB).

Council will accept one Transitory Accommodation objection form per 6-month rating period. Objections are required to be submitted for the July 2025 to December 2025 rating period before the 30 June 2026 and for the January 2026 to June 2026 rating period submitted before 31 August 2026.

The Arts and Heritage Levy (HTML) funds arts and cultural heritage projects, in line with the goals and strategies endorsed within the Sunshine Coast Heritage Plan 2021-2031 (HTML/PDF, 2.71 MB), the Sunshine Coast Arts Plan 2023-2038, (HTML/PDF, 2.65MB) in accordance with Council's Arts and Heritage Levy Policy.

The 2025-26 levy remains the same as last year, at $20 per rateable land.

The annual Environment Levy (HTML) in accordance with Council's Environment Levy Policy, will:

• support the implementation of projects in the Environment and Liveability Strategy (HTML)
• protect and enhances our natural environment
• support purchase and management of conservation lands, catchment and coastal rehabilitation projects.

The 2025-26 levy remains the same as last year, at $82 per rateable land.

The annual Transport Levy (HTML) helps council plan for future transport needs. In accordance with Council's Transport Levy Policy, the levy funds strategic transport infrastructure, services and initiatives that play a key role including but not limited to:

• Utilising levy revenue to fund or leverage selected eligible transport infrastructure for multi-modal transport outcomes that have priority but cannot be provided in a timely manner through existing funding mechanisms
• Allowing Council to influence the bringing forward of investment in State and Federal Government transport network improvements
• Enabling Council to enter into partnerships with the State Government, and potentially third-party interests, to jointly fund selected eligible transport infrastructure and initiatives
• Enabling Council to fund selected eligible initiatives, projects and services for community benefit
• Enabling Council to raise awareness within the community of travel choices, leading to a change of travel behaviour, to increase the use of sustainable transport and related network operation
• An increased level of community awareness on the current and future transport issues facing the Sunshine Coast Regional Council local government area
• Develop and maintain a broad understanding of likely future strategic transport ‘disruptions’
• Building a Transport Futures Fund directed at achieving long term, multi-modal transport infrastructure outcomes
• Complementing Council’s vision and supporting the objectives of Council’s Integrated Transport Strategy.

The 2025-26 levy has reduced from last year to $43.92 per rateable land.

Utility charges for waste management, including cleansing and waste removal activities are for the purpose of defraying the costs of operating, maintaining and managing the collection and disposal of waste from all lands and premises in Council’s local government area.

Waste management utility charges apply to all commercial premises and domestic premises within the Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area which are directly or indirectly connected to the Automated Waste Collection Service (AWCS) of Council.