Certificates and searches for property information
Council can perform a range of searches on a property. These include rates and valuation, business licensing and health, flooding, building plumbing and development records.
From 1 August 2025, important changes to property transactions will start in Queensland under the new Property Law Act 2023 (the Act). The new Act introduces a mandatory seller disclosure scheme (the scheme), which requires the seller to provide a variety of searches.
Please see Seller disclosure scheme information below.
Council offers a variety of searches to help inform your decision before buying a property or starting up a business. These searches will help you understand any issues relevant to the property.
Development.i site report can provide general planning details for a property. This includes the zoning and any overlays that may affect development or the use of the property.
Development.i provides development and building application information and decisions for properties in the region. This includes specific planning conditions applicable to the site.
For more specific details, you can request a search about different aspects of a property. These may be helpful to understand how planning constraints might affect a property, or what might be involved to bring a building up to standard.
Search types
- Building, plumbing and development searches. Note: Information provided for building, plumbing and development is subject to availability of council’s records, refer to the type of search for details.
- Rates and valuation searches
- Business licensing and health
- Health records
- Licence/s on same premise
- Invasive biosecurity matter
- Property inspection declared pest plants
- Drainage deficiency area survey
- Flood information
For some searches, council may need access to a property to conduct an inspection. If so, council may need the phone number of the occupant or the agent holding the key to arrange access.
When requesting a search, you may also require an 'authority to enter'. You can check the requirements on the individual search request form.
How to request a search
You can request a search online using MyCouncil.
For help with MyCouncil:
- refer to our MyCouncil FAQs
- read step by step instructions and find out what search options are available.
Alternatively, you can complete the relevant form and pay the applicable fee in person or by post. Select the relevant form:
- building, plumbing and development (DOCX, 296KB)
- business licensing and health (DOCX, 293KB)
- flooding (DOCX, 205KB)
- rates and valuation (DOCX, 293KB).
Each form contains:
- full details of the various searches available
- fees associated for each search type.
Other types of searches
- swimming pool fence compliance advice search, refer to swimming pool regulations
- stormwater search requests. You will need to complete an as constructed stormwater search request (DOCX, 295KB)
- planning and development records, plans and guidelines through Development.i.
Seller disclosure scheme
The scheme requires sellers to provide buyers with key information about a property before a contract of sale is signed. The buyer may be able to terminate the contract if the seller does not comply with the scheme. We recommend engaging with a solicitor to ensure compliance.
Further information about the scheme, including a downloadable guide, can be found on the Queensland Government website - Seller disclosure scheme.
Council offers a variety of searches and tools that sellers can use to assist in compliance including:
- Development.i Site Report – Zoning details
Note: some properties may be subject to alternate zoning requirements such as those under the Economic Development Act 2012, or Land Within Development Control Plan 1, including:- Caloundra South Priority Development Area (Aura) and,
- Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area or,
- Kawana Waters (Kawana Master Plan).
For assistance with zoning, please contact our Call Centre on 07 5475 7272.
- Contact Sunshine Coast Property Management Team via email [email protected] - Transport proposal and resumption details
- Contact our Call Centre on 07 5475 7272 – Rates confirmation
For other information required by the scheme, we recommend engaging with the following entities:
- Titles Queensland – Title search, survey plan and any registered encumbrances
- Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) - Tree order under Neighbourhood Disputes Act
- Queensland Government Heritage Register - State heritage listing
- Queensland Government Environmental Land Register - Contamination and environmental protection notices and orders.
- Unitywater- Water services balance and sewer/water main information
- QBCC - Notices regarding unlicensed building work by owner/builders
- QBCC pool register - Pool safety certificates
Other entities that may need to be contacted include the associated Body corporate.
Obtaining Copies of Notices
To obtain a copy of a Show Cause Notice or Enforcement Notice, you will need to submit a written request to Council via [email protected].
These documents are not available online or through general enquiries due to privacy and legal considerations. This process ensures that sensitive compliance documentation is handled securely and in accordance with Council procedures.