The valuation of your property by the Valuer-General.
Decimal rate set by your specific Council (check your notice).
$
Enter the minimum rate if applicable, or fixed charge component.
$
Formerly NRM Levy. Varies by region.
$
Pensioner concessions, self-funded retiree caps, etc.
Estimated Council Rates Breakdown
General Rates (Based on Valuation):$0.00
Regional Landscape Levy:$0.00
Less Concessions:-$0.00
Total Annual Payable:$0.00
Estimated Quarterly Installment:$0.00
How to Calculate Council Rates in Adelaide
Understanding your council rates notice in South Australia can be complex. Unlike standard utility bills based on usage, council rates are a form of property taxation determined by the assessed value of your home or land and the budget requirements of your local government area.
The Calculation Formula
Most councils in the Greater Adelaide region, including the City of Adelaide, City of Charles Sturt, and City of Marion, use a similar formula to determine your annual contribution:
Capital Value: The value of your land plus all improvements (buildings), determined by the Office of the Valuer-General.
Rate in the Dollar (RID): This is a multiplier determined by the council every financial year. For example, a RID of 0.0024 means you pay 0.24 cents for every dollar of property value.
Fixed Charge: Some councils apply a fixed charge to every rateable property to ensure all residents contribute to basic infrastructure costs, regardless of property value.
What is the Regional Landscape Levy?
Formerly known as the NRM (Natural Resources Management) Levy, the Regional Landscape Levy is a state government charge collected by local councils. It funds the management of land, water, pests, and biodiversity in your specific landscape board region (e.g., Green Adelaide). This is added on top of your general council rates.
Minimum Rates
If the calculation of (Capital Value × Rate in the Dollar) results in a figure that is considered too low to cover basic administrative costs, a "Minimum Rate" applies. For example, if the calculated rate is $750 but the council's minimum is $1,100, you will be charged $1,100.
How to Lower Your Rates
While you cannot change the Rate in the Dollar, you can ensure you are not overpaying by checking your Capital Value. If you believe the Valuer-General has overestimated the market value of your property, you have the right to lodge an objection within 60 days of receiving your first rates notice for the financial year. Additionally, eligible pensioners and self-funded retirees may apply for "Cost of Living" concessions through the state government.
function calculateRates() {
// 1. Get Input Values
var capitalValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById('capitalValue').value);
var rid = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rateInDollar').value);
var fixedCharge = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fixedCharge').value);
var levy = parseFloat(document.getElementById('landscapeLevy').value);
var concessions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('concessions').value);
// 2. Validation
if (isNaN(capitalValue) || capitalValue <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Assessed Capital Value.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(rid) || rid 0 and usually small (like $500), it's additive.
// If it's large (like $1000) and general rates are small, it might be a minimum.
// To keep it standard for Adelaide (Rating Policy usually involves Fixed Charge OR Minimum Rate),
// We will assume the calculation is: (Value * RID) + Fixed Charge.
// *User Note*: We leave the interpretation to the user entering the data based on their specific council logic.
// We simply add the fixed charge here as per standard formula: Rates = (Valuation * RID) + Fixed.
var baseTotal = generalRates + fixedCharge;
// Add Levy
var subTotal = baseTotal + levy;
// Subtract Concessions
var totalPayable = subTotal – concessions;
// Ensure total doesn't go below zero
if (totalPayable < 0) totalPayable = 0;
// Quarterly calculation
var quarterly = totalPayable / 4;
// 4. Formatting Currency
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-AU', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'AUD',
minimumFractionDigits: 2
});
// 5. Update DOM
document.getElementById('displayGeneralRates').innerText = formatter.format(generalRates);
document.getElementById('displayLevy').innerText = formatter.format(levy);
document.getElementById('displayConcessions').innerText = "-" + formatter.format(concessions);
document.getElementById('displayTotal').innerText = formatter.format(totalPayable);
document.getElementById('displayQuarterly').innerText = formatter.format(quarterly);
// Show results
document.getElementById('resultsArea').style.display = 'block';
}